UK counterterrorism unit probes rappers Kneecap but music stars back band
The UK government has launched an investigation into online videos of Irish rappers Kneecap after the band denied supporting Hamas and Hezbollah or inciting violence against UK politicians.
London’s Metropolitan Police said two videos had been “referred to the Counter Terrorism Internet Referral Unit for assessment by specialist officers, who have determined there are grounds for further investigation into potential offences linked to both videos”.
The announcement came as nearly 40 other groups and artists, among them Pulp, Paul Weller and Primal Scream, rallied around the band amid an escalating row about political messaging at its concerts. Other artists offering their support are The Pogues, Massive Attack, Dexys and Thin Lizzy.
“As artists, we feel the need to register our opposition to any political repression of artistic freedom,” the group said in a joint statement. They added that there had been a “clear, concerted attempt to censor and ultimately deplatform”.
Since the row erupted, Kneecap has had several concerts cancelled, including one in southwest England and three in Germany.
Pro-Palestine activist in Belgium decries arrest after attending protest
Mohammed Khatib, who works for a Palestinian prisoners solidarity network called Samidoun, says that he was arrested by Belgian police after attending a pro-Palestine protest in Brussels.
He sees his arrest was part of a larger effort by authorities to exert pressure on critics of Israel’s brutal war in Gaza.
“If they had something they could use against me, I would not be sitting here. I would be in prison,” he told Al Jazeera. “The goal of this intimidation is to silence the movement, to make an example of us and say that if we do the same, this is our future. We will fight this.”
Hamas calls on Switzerland to reverse its ban
Hamas has put out a statement addressing Switzerland’s decision to enforce a new law banning the group and related organisations on May 15.
Here is a summary of their translated comments:
- Switzerland’s decision to ban the movement is a dangerous bias towards the occupation and a denial of its legal and humanitarian obligations.
- Switzerland’s political and moral commitments require urgent action to halt the [Israeli PM] Netanyahu government’s violations of international law.
- We call on Switzerland to reverse its unjust decision, stand up for justice, and support our people’s struggle to end the occupation.
