• Kneecap rapper Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh faces a terrorism charge for allegedly displaying a Hezbollah flag at a concert.
• Supporters gathered outside the court, demonstrating solidarity with the rapper and protesting against perceived repression of free speech.
• The rapper's defense argues the charge was brought too late under UK law.

A member of the Irish rap group Kneecap, Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, known as Mo Chara, has been charged with a terrorism offence for allegedly displaying a Hezbollah flag during a London concert in November 2024. The 27-year-old was charged in May under the Terrorism Act, which prohibits displaying items that support proscribed organizations, such as Hezbollah in the UK, since its designation in 2019. O'Hanna is set to argue that the charge was filed outside the legal time limit during his recent appearance at Westminster Magistrates' Court, according to Al Jazeera and Reuters.

The court proceedings have attracted significant public attention, with hundreds of supporters gathering outside the courthouse to demonstrate their backing for O'Hanna. Many displayed banners proclaiming "Free Mo Chara," and expressed outrage at what the rapper and his supporters describe as a politically motivated charge seeking to stifle their voice on Palestinian rights and other issues. “His trial is not just about one person; it is part of the wider repression of Palestine activism in Britain,” articulated CAGE, a rights group, echoing sentiments reported by South China Morning Post and TRT Global.

During a previous court appearance, O'Hanna stated, "This is a distraction from the real story" referring to Israel's actions in Gaza, which have drawn international condemnation amid high civilian casualties. Prosecutors allege that he had held the Hezbollah flag on stage while proclaiming "Up Hamas, up Hezbollah," demonstrating his alleged support for the group, while the defense maintains that the flag was thrown onto the stage unexpectedly. This narrative was emphasized by Kneecap which claimed they have increasingly vocalized their stance against the actions occurring in Gaza, intensifying since O'Hanna's legal troubles began, according to BBC and South China Morning Post.

Under the terms of the party-driven social media commentary, Kneecap has pointed out the injustice of the charges in light of their advocacy, saying, “Since his last court appearance Israel has murdered another 9,000 Palestinians.” The rapper appeared at his latest hearing adorned in a keffiyeh scarf, emblematic of the Palestinian cause, while navigating through a crowd of journalists and supporters. The upcoming court ruling on the timeliness of the charge is expected on September 26, according to BBC and Reuters.