Orbán bans Kneecap from entering Hungary

The far-right government of Viktor Orbán’s Hungary banned Kneecap from entering the country for three years, a few days before their performance at the Sziget festival (11 August), accusing them of “anti-Semitic speech” and “supporting terrorist organisations”.

Hungarian government spokesman Zoltán Kovács also said that “Hungary has zero tolerance for antisemitism in any form. Their planned performance posed a national security threat and, for this reason, the group has been formally banned from Hungary for three years. If they enter, expulsion will follow under international norms.”

Kneecap responded that the decision is political and that there is no legal basis, as none of the three have been convicted of anything in any country, and stressed that it is an attempt to silence those who speak “about the genocide in Palestine.”

“We stand against all hate crimes and Kneecap champions love and solidarity as well as calling out injustices where we see it. It’s clear this is political distraction and a further attempt to silence those who call out genocide against the Palestinian people” Kneccap stated.

Several Kneecap concerts have been cancelled after their member, Mo Chara, was accused of terrorism for holding a Hezbollah flag at a concert.