UKIP Plans Deportation of Belfast Rappers Kneecap to North Korea

The UK Independence Party (UKIP) has declared that if it came to power, it would permanently deport Belfast-based rap group Kneecap, labeling them a 'hate group' and threatening to send them to 'somewhere like North Korea.' This statement follows a terror charge against Kneecap member Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, also known as Mo Chara, for allegedly displaying a Hezbollah flag at a London concert, which the group denies, calling the charge political policing. Northern Ireland First Minister Michelle O'Neill expressed solidarity with Ó hAnnaidh, asserting that highlighting genocide is not a crime and supporting protests against the violence in Palestine. The party's remarks have been criticized, especially given that Kneecap members are from Northern Ireland, part of the United Kingdom, raising questions about the feasibility and legality of such deportations. Kneecap responded to UKIP's statement with a sarcastic correction, emphasizing their Irish republican stance and rejecting the party's narrative. The case has sparked wider debate about freedom of expression, political policing, and the ongoing tensions around the Israel-Palestine conflict.