The Pop Corporation

It’s a bad look when you’re recognising Palestine as a state one minute, but overseeing a system of law that’s trying someone who has been a vocal champion of that same place and the people within it.

That’s what’s going down with the UK government and various politicians, who are looking at the terror charges against Kneecap’s Mo Chara being thrown out.

The group had been accused of all sorts, including being called terrorist sympathisers most pertinently, and of course, they’re not. After the case was promptly quashed, the group responded in their usual emphatic manner:

“18 Months Of Genocide Footage Not Under Investigation By UK Counter-Terror Police”, as well as stating “this is political policing – this is a carnival of distraction. We are not the story. Genocide is”.

Whatever anyone thinks of it all, the facts are this – Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring told Woolwich Crown Court that the charge against Ó hAnnaidh was “unlawful” and “null”, with Jude Bunting KC telling the court: “This case was every bit unjustified as it was flawed”.

And they’re right.

Ó hAnnaidh added, outside the court: “This process was never about me. It was never about threats to the public. It was never about terrorism. It was always about Gaza, about what happens when you dare to speak up. Your attempts to silence us have failed because we’re right and you’re wrong.”

Later, in a full statement on social media:Instagram, he added: “This entire process was never about me, never about any threat to the public and never about “terrorism”, a word used by your government to discredit people you oppress. It was always about Gaza. About what happens if you dare to speak up.

“As people from Ireland we know oppression, colonialism, famine and genocide. We have suffered and still suffer under “your empire”. Your attempts to silence us have failed, because we are right, and you are wrong. We will not be silent.”

“We said we would fight you in your court and we would win. We have. If anyone on this planet is guilty of terrorism, it is the British state.”

“Free Palestine! Tiocfaidh ár lá.”

While this falls under Keir Starmer’s jurisdiction, Kemi Badenoch has also been a critic of the group and tried to go after them, and also failed. While governments slowly catch up to the recognising of what’s happening as a genocide, Kneecap are only being made to look more correct, while also looking sharper and funnier in the process.

The group’s manager said: “We have won!!!!!! Liam Óg is a free man. We said we would fight them and win. We did (twice). Kneecap has NO charges OR convictions in ANY country, EVER. Political policing has failed. Kneecap is on the right side of history. Britain is not. Free Palestine.”

Meanwhile, Ireland’s First Minister Michelle O’Neill added: “These charges were part of a calculated attempt to silence those who stand up and speak out against the Israeli genocide in Gaza. Kneecap have used their platform on stages across the world to expose this genocide, and it is the responsibility of all of us to continue speaking out and standing against injustice in Palestine.”

A report from the UN Human Rights Council concluded that there’s “reasonable grounds that the Israeli authorities and Israeli security forces have committed and are continuing to commit genocide against the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip”. British politicians are more reluctant to agree on this matter, while the tide of public opinion flies in the face of that.

Meanwhile, Kneecap alongside hundreds of other artists including Massive Attack, Fontaines DC and more, are taking part in the No Music For Genocide campaign, and vowing to prevent their music from being streamed in Israel.