Hungary Bans Irish Rap Group Kneecap Over Anti-Semitism Claims

The Irish rap group Kneecap has been banned from entering Hungary for three years ahead of their scheduled performance at the Sziget Festival, with the Hungarian government accusing them of anti-Semitic hate speech and glorifying terrorism, specifically citing praise for Hamas and Hezbollah. Government spokesperson Zoltán Kovács stated that Kneecap’s appearance posed a national security threat, prompting the ban, which was welcomed by the Israeli ambassador to Hungary. However, Sziget Festival organizers condemned the ban as unnecessary and regrettable, emphasizing their commitment to artistic freedom and denying that the band’s performance would violate Hungarian law or the festival’s values. Over 150 artists and cultural figures have protested the ban, warning it could damage Hungary’s international reputation. Kneecap has denied supporting any terrorist groups and condemned all attacks on civilians, while the controversy echoes previous calls from UK officials to drop the band from other festival lineups due to their political messages. The situation underscores the tensions between national security concerns, artistic expression, and political activism in international cultural events.