Finance
UK prosecutors lose appeal to reinstate terrorism charge against kneecap rapper
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on March 11, 2026
2 min readLast updated: March 11, 2026
Quick Summary
British prosecutors failed to reinstate a terrorism charge against Kneecap rapper Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh (Mo Chara) after London’s High Court upheld a dismissal grounded in procedural errors—the original charge lacked requisite approvals and was filed one day late.
UK prosecutors lose appeal to reinstate terrorism charge against Kneecap rapper
High Court Ruling and Background of the Case
Prosecutors' Attempt to Reinstate Charges
LONDON, March 11 (Reuters) - British prosecutors lost their bid on Wednesday to reinstate a terrorism charge against a member of Irish rap group Kneecap for displaying a flag of Iran-backed Lebanese militia Hezbollah at a London gig.
Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, whose stage name is Mo Chara, was accused of having waved the flag of the banned militant group Hezbollah during a November 2024 gig.
Initial Dismissal of the Charge
The charge was thrown out in September after a court ruled it had originally been brought without the permission of the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Attorney General.
Appeal and Final Decision
The Crown Prosecution Service said it would challenge the ruling but London's High Court rejected its appeal on Wednesday, meaning the case cannot proceed. The CPS said in a statement that it accepted the High Court's ruling.
Kneecap's Response and Context
Political Reactions and Statements
Kneecap – known for their politically charged lyrics and support for the Palestinian cause – have previously said the case was an attempt to distract from what they described as British complicity in Israel's genocide in Gaza. Israel strongly denies committing a genocide.
Details of the Incident
Ó hAnnaidh was charged in May with displaying the Hezbollah flag in such a way that aroused reasonable suspicion that he supported the banned group, after footage emerged of him holding the flag on stage while saying "Up Hamas, up Hezbollah".
Background on Hamas and Kneecap's Position
Hamas is the militant Palestinian group that has ruled Gaza since 2007, and which Israel has been seeking to destroy during its two-year war that ended with a fragile ceasefire in October 2025.
Kneecap have previously said the Hezbollah flag was thrown on stage during their performance and that they "do not, and have never, supported Hamas or Hezbollah".
Ó hAnnaidh's Statement
Ó hAnnaidh said in a statement: "This entire process was never about me, never about any threat to the public and never about 'terrorism' ... It was always about Palestine and about what happens if you dare to speak up."
(Reporting by Sam Tobin; editing by William James and Gareth Jones)
Key Takeaways
- •The charge stemmed from Ó hAnnaidh allegedly displaying a Hezbollah flag at a London gig in November 2024, prompting counter‑terrorism scrutiny (theguardian.com)
- •A Woolwich Magistrates’ Court dismissed the case in September 2025, citing lack of Attorney General/DPP permission and breach of the six‑month statutory limit (theguardian.com)
References
- Kneecap rapper charged with terrorism offence over alleged Hezbollah flag at London gig | UK news | The Guardian
- Terrorism case against Kneecap rapper Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh thrown out | Kneecap | The Guardian
- UK prosecutors seek to reinstate ‘terrorism’ charge against Kneecap rapper | Courts News | Al Jazeera
Frequently Asked Questions about UK prosecutors lose appeal to reinstate terrorism charge against Kneecap rapper
1Who is the Kneecap rapper facing terrorism charges?
Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, known as Mo Chara, is the rapper who faced terrorism charges.
2Why was the terrorism charge initially thrown out?
The charge was thrown out because it was brought without proper permission and was filed one day outside the statutory limit.
