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A London judge has dismissed a terrorism charge<\/a> against Liam \u00d3g \u00d3 hAnnaidh, the Kneecap<\/a> rapper who goes by Mo Chara. The musician\u2019s defense team had argued that the charge\u2014stemming from a November 2024 incident in which Mo Chara allegedly displayed the Hezbollah flag during a concert\u2014fell outside the statute of limitations, and the judge agreed.<\/p>\n \u201cI find that these proceedings were not instituted in the correct form, lacking the necessary DPP [Director of Public Prosecutions] and AG [Attorney General] consent within the six-month statutory time limit,\u201d Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring said, according to BBC News NI<\/a>. He added that the court had \u201cno jurisdiction to try the charge.\u201d<\/p>\n Mo Chara and his Kneecap bandmates have been vocal advocates for Palestinian rights and harsh critics of Israel. The Irish rappers have also denounced Hezbollah and Hamas, two militant groups that are considered terrorist organizations by the United Kingdom.<\/p>\n \u201cThis entire process was never about me,\u201d Mo Chara told suporters outside the courthouse. “It was never about any threat to the public; it was never about terrorism\u2014a word used by your government to discredit people you oppress.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt was always about Gaza, about what happens if you dare to speak up,\u201d he added. \u201cYour attempts to silence us have failed because we\u2019re right and you\u2019re wrong.\u201d<\/p>\n Kneecap recently canceled<\/a> a U.S. tour, citing the shows proximity to Mo Chara\u2019s court date. Kneecap had still planned to play October concerts in Canada, but they have been barred<\/a> from entering the country, with a Canadian official accusing the group of amplifying political violence and displaying antisemitic symbols. Kneecap have also been banned<\/a> from Hungary, and a government spokesman also cited the band\u2019s alleged antisemitism and support for terrorism. Kneecap have opposed both bans.<\/p>\n