Despite facing charges in the United Kingdom for allegedly supporting Hezbollah, Irish rap group Kneecap is set to perform at the Rock en Seine festival in Saint-Cloud, Paris, later today — sparking sharp condemnation from French Jewish organizations and government officials.
The municipality of Saint-Cloud has withdrawn its €40,000 subsidy for the festival, and the wider Île-de-France region has also canceled its funding for the 2025 edition. Officials took the step after organizers refused to remove the band from the lineup, with their performance scheduled for 16:30 GMT.
“We are confident that the group will perform in the correct manner,” Matthieu Ducos, director of Rock en Seine, told AFP, asserting that the festival itself remains financially secure despite the funding cuts, with a total budget of €16–17 million this year.
Controversial history and accusations
Singer Liam O’Hanna, 27, who performs under the stage name Mo Chara, was charged in the UK in May after allegedly displaying a Hezbollah flag at a London concert in November. Videos circulating online purportedly show the band shouting slogans such as “Up Hamas, up Hezbollah” and calling for violence against British lawmakers.
The group’s name references the “kneecapping” punishment attacks carried out by Irish Republicans during Northern Ireland’s Troubles.
