Kneecap

[Feedback]

Re: Kneecap

The Cambridge Dictionary defines 'hate speech' as "public speech that expresses hate or encourages violence towards a person or group based on something such as race, religion, sex, or sexual orientation".

in my opinion, both Bob Vylan and Kneecap's words were

1. public
2. encouraged violence
3. targeted a specific person or group

the law is very clear about this, and you'll be well aware that its not the Cambridge dictionary definition that is relevant here, its the actual legislation.

[jon1959]

Re: Kneecap

in my opinion, both Bob Vylan and Kneecap's words were

1. public
2. encouraged violence
3. targeted a specific person or group

the law is very clear about this, and you'll be well aware that its not the Cambridge dictionary definition that is relevant here, its the actual legislation.

Thanks - yes I realise the law is not found in on-line dictionaries.

However, the dictionary definitions are reflecting the law as written in statute. I believe this wiki summary accurately explains the current law:

Hate speech laws in England and Wales are found in several statutes, and differ slightly from the laws adopted in Scotland. Expressions of hatred toward someone on account of that person's colour, race, sex, disability, nationality (including citizenship), ethnic or national origin, religion, or sexual orientation is forbidden. Any communication which is threatening or abusive, and is intended to harass, alarm, or distress someone is forbidden. The penalties for hate speech include fines, imprisonment, or both.

The Police and CPS have formulated a definition of hate crimes and hate incidents, with hate speech forming a subset of these. Something is a hate incident if the victim or anyone else think it was motivated by hostility or prejudice based on: disability, race, religion, gender identity or sexual orientation. A hate incident becomes a hate crime if it crosses the boundary of criminality.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hate_speech_laws_in_the_United_Kingdom

My point stands. The words described as 'hate speech' by some could be called threatening or abusive. Coming from a two man punk band and directed at a modern nuclear-armed army of over 600,000 (including reservists) it was clearly not intended to harass, alarm or distress! It was not directed at the IDF because of their ethnic origin, religion or sexual orientation - it was because of their genocidal actions!

[jon1959]

Re: Kneecap

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cly290dk226o

No further action will be taken against Kneecap over their performance at Glastonbury, police have said.

Last month, Avon and Somerset Police launched a criminal investigation into comments made on stage by the Irish language rap trio at the music festival.

On Friday, the force said detectives had sought advice from the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and chosen not to take any further action against Kneecap on the grounds that there was "insufficient evidence to provide a realistic prospect of conviction for any offence".

Kneecap called the investigation "political policing intimidation" and said their performance was a "celebration of love and solidarity".

"This is political," they said.

"Every single person who saw our set knew no law was broken, not even close."


Police said their enquiries into pop-punk duo Bob Vylan continue.

[JamesWales]

Re: Kneecap

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cly290dk226o

No further action will be taken against Kneecap over their performance at Glastonbury, police have said.

Last month, Avon and Somerset Police launched a criminal investigation into comments made on stage by the Irish language rap trio at the music festival.

On Friday, the force said detectives had sought advice from the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and chosen not to take any further action against Kneecap on the grounds that there was "insufficient evidence to provide a realistic prospect of conviction for any offence".

Kneecap called the investigation "political policing intimidation" and said their performance was a "celebration of love and solidarity".

"This is political," they said.

"Every single person who saw our set knew no law was broken, not even close."


Police said their enquiries into pop-punk duo Bob Vylan continue.

Yeah this is the Glastonbury performance which I don't think was ever explained as to why they were investigating.

The bigger case in question is from the gigs in London when they waved the Hezbollah flag and shouted "Up Hamas". I think that case is sometime in August.

[jon1959]

Re: Kneecap

Terrorism case thrown out.

https://www.theguardian.com/music/2025/sep/26/terrorism-case-against-kneecap-rapper-liam-og-o-hannaidh-thrown-out

[JamesWales]

Re: Kneecap

Absolute farce

[Dorcus]

Re: Kneecap

Absolute farce

Right wing Americans like to repeatedly declare that guns don't kill anyone, people do. Shirley that applies even more so to flags: in the main they are only decorated pieces of cloth. This could be set up as a Derrida debate.

[SLUDGE FACTORY]

Re: Kneecap

Absolute farce

I am afraid the law is the law sonny

[JamesWales]

Re: Kneecap

I am afraid the law is the law sonny

And a farcical one it is too, when the guy is on video waving the flag and shouting "up Hamas".

I think it was registered a day late or whatever. Ludicrous

[William Treseder]

Re: Kneecap

So basically, Kneecap get away with spouting hatred, just as Israel get away with atrocities. It’s a strange world we live in.

[jon1959]

Re: Kneecap

So basically, Kneecap get away with spouting hatred, just as Israel get away with atrocities. It’s a strange world we live in.

Well that has put everything into perspective!

[William Treseder]

Re: Kneecap

Well that has put everything into perspective!

Sometimes it really is as simple as that.

[JamesWales]

Re: Kneecap

Yes I've noticed a tendency of people to say "but what about Palestine" to justify anything. But it doesn't work like that. Seeing people get away with literally promoting a terrorist group doesn't aid anyone or anything, least of all people in Palestine. It just leads to less and less faith in the justice system

[Dorcus]

Re: Kneecap

Yes I've noticed a tendency of people to say "but what about Palestine" to justify anything. But it doesn't work like that. Seeing people get away with literally promoting a terrorist group doesn't aid anyone or anything, least of all people in Palestine. It just leads to less and less faith in the justice system

Lots and lots of people support the IDF and they seem to get away scot free: it's a weirdly dysfunctional world we live in isn't it?

[JamesWales]

Re: Kneecap

Lots and lots of people support the IDF and they seem to get away scot free: it's a weirdly dysfunctional world we live in isn't it?

The IDF are an army of a democratic state though. That doesn't mean they don't kill more people - they absolutely do, as armies are well funded and supplied etc.

It doesn't change support for terrorist groups dripping in the rhetoric of Islamic extremism that has killed dozens in this country alone in recent years.

He is one very lucky man and questions will have to be asked of how the case was botched.