‘We’ll beat you in court’: Kneecap launch legal fight against 'baseless' Canadian ban
Eva Osborne
The Canadian government has declared members of Belfast-based rap group Kneecap ineligible to enter the country, citing alleged support for terrorism and anti-semitic hate speech.
The move has triggered legal threats from the band.
In a statement on Friday, Vince Gasparro, Canada's parliamentary secretary for combating crime, said the decision was made “on the advice of officials” due to actions and statements by the group, which he claimed “amplified political violence” and “publicly displayed support for terrorist organisations.”
“On behalf of the Government of Canada I am announcing that on the advice of our officials, we have deemed the group Kneecap ineligible to enter our country,” Gasparro said.
“Our government will not tolerate the advocating of political violence, terrorism or anti-semitism and hate more broadly.
“Recently, the rap group Kneecap has engaged in actions and have made statements that are contrary to Canadian values and laws that have caused deep alarm to our government.
"The group have amplified political violence and publicly displayed support for terrorist organisations such as Hezbillah and Hams. These are not expressions of art or legitimate political crituque. They are dangerous endorsenments of violence and hate.”
Gasparro added that one member of the group is facing terrorism-related charges in the UK.
“Notably, one member of the band is currently facing terrorism related charges in the UK. Criticism of foreign governments is protected under Canada's charter of rights and freedoms.
"However advocating for political violence, glorifying terrorist organisations, and displying hate symbols that directly target the Jewish community are not protected forms of expression and will not be tolerated by our government.
“That is why, as parliamentary secretary for combating crime, I am announcing that effective immediately the members of the band have been deemed ineligbile to enter Canada.”
'Wholly untrue and deeply malicious'
In their response, Kneecap rejected the Canadian government’s claims and announced plans to take legal action against Gasparro, calling his remarks “baseless".
“Your comments about us are wholly untrue and deeply malicious. We will not accept it,” the band said in a statement posted on social media.
“No member of Kneecap has been convicted of any crime in any country ever. Whilst you outrageously try to claim we are antisemetic, The Times newspaper in England today wrote of our headline show in London last night as 'emphatically anti-sectarian'."
The group said they had instructed lawyers to initiate proceedings.
“We have today instructed our lawyers to initiate legal action against you.
"We will be relentess in defending ourselves against baseless accusations to silence our opposition to a genocide being committed by Israel.
“When we beat you in court, which we will, we will donate every cent to assist some of the thousands of child amputees in Gaza.”
A message to Vince Gasparro and our many fans across Canada. 👇 https://t.co/66avCapPgn pic.twitter.com/ySsrgpMs6J
— KNEECAP (@KNEECAPCEOL) September 19, 2025
