Irish rap group Kneecap to take legal action after Canada bans entry
Irish rap group Kneecap said it will be taking legal action after being banned from entering Canada on the grounds of “endorsing political violence.”
The announcement was made on X by Parliamentary Secretary for Combating Crime Vince Gasparro on Friday morning.
“Recently, the rap group Kneecap has engaged in actions and has made statements that are contrary to Canadian values and laws that have caused deep alarm to our government,” stated Gasparro.
On behalf of the Government of Canada I am announcing that on the advice of our officials, we have deemed the group Kneecap ineligible to enter our country.
Our government will not tolerate the advocating of political violence, terrorism or Anti-Semitism and hate more broadly. pic.twitter.com/3KOf84G3bZ
— Vince Gasparro (@vgasparro) September 19, 2025
“The group have amplified political violence and publicly displayed support for terrorist organizations such as Hezbollah and Hamas. These are not expressions of art or legitimate political critique. They are dangerous endorsements of violence and hate.”
The band was scheduled to perform in Vancouver and Toronto in October.
Kneecap is made up of members Mo Chara, Móglaí Bap, and DJ Próvaí.
On the group’s website, they are described as having built up “notoriety for themselves which hasn’t been seen in Irish music for many years, perhaps ever.”
“Merging Irish with English, satire with socially conscious lyrics, and reality with absurdity, theirs is a voice which comes screaming from the too-often deprived areas of the North of Ireland, speaking in a language which is too-often ignored, and it makes for suitably electrifying stuff,” stated the website.
Kneecap has been known for publicly supporting Palestine in live performances and on social media.
They have previously stated that they do not and “have never” supported Hezbollah and Hamas, despite old videos recirculating, where the group was heard saying, “Up Hezbollah, Up Hamas” on stage.
The group claimed that the footage of those videos was “deliberately taken out of all context.”
Earlier this year, group member Mo Charra was charged with a terror offence for allegedly displaying a Hezbollah flag during a 2024 show in London.
Kneecap responds to Canadian government
In an online statement responding to the federal government, Kneecap said Gasparro’s comments were “wholly untrue and deeply malicious.”
“We will not accept it,” stated Kneecap. “No member of Kneecap has been convicted of any crime in any country ever.”
The group also said it has instructed its lawyers to take legal action against Gasparro.
In a separate statement, the group claimed it had provided immigration authorities with all the requested information to enter Canada.
“We have played in Canada many times with no issues and a message of solidarity and love.”
A message to Vince Gasparro and our many fans across Canada. 👇 https://t.co/66avCapPgn pic.twitter.com/ySsrgpMs6J
— KNEECAP (@KNEECAPCEOL) September 19, 2025
The Canadian Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA) issued a statement saying it “welcomed” the federal government’s decision to ban the members of Kneecap from entering the country.
“Incitement, hate and radicalization have no place in this country. Not on our airwaves. Not on campus. And not on stage,” said CIJA.
The advocacy group Irish4Palestine also issued a public statement, noting it was “outraged but unfortunately not surprised” by the federal government’s decision.
“Canada is once again trying to silence the Palestinian liberation movement and knows full well of Kneecap’s consistent stance against genocide and its solidarity with the Palestinian struggle,” said the group.
In his video statement, Gasparro said that while criticism of foreign governments is protected under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, “advocating for political violence, glorifying terrorist organizations, and displaying hate symbols that directly target the Jewish community, are not protected forms of expression and will not be tolerated by our government.”
Daily Hive has contacted Kneecap’s management and Gasparro’s office. We will update this story if we receive a response.