Canada's opposition Conservative Party has called on the government to clarify whether Belfast rap group Kneecap have been barred from entering the country, after doubts emerged over the status of an alleged ban. The call follows a video posted on 19 September by Liberal MP Vince Gasparro, parliamentary secretary for combating crime, in which he stated the trio were 'ineligible' to enter Canada.
Gasparro alleged the band glorified 'terrorist organisations' and 'amplified political violence and publicly displayed support for terrorist organisations such as Hezbollah and Hamas'. He said he was speaking 'on behalf of the government of Canada' and acting on official advice. Kneecap, comprising Naoise Ó Cairealláin, Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh and JJ Ó Dochartaigh, have denied supporting Hamas or Hezbollah, calling Gasparro's comments 'wholly untrue and deeply malicious'.
The veracity of Gasparro's claim was questioned after officials failed to provide further information, particularly after a British magistrate threw out a terror-related charge against Ó hAnnaidh on Friday. Conservative deputy leader Melissa Lantsman said Gasparro 'either lied or has no clue how it works'. Gasparro told reporters he made the video 'based on the information that was available', and his office referred questions to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, which did not respond.
Kneecap, known for their pro-Palestine stance and anti-authority lyrics, were scheduled to play four shows in Toronto and Vancouver this month. After Gasparro's statement, the band announced they would take legal action. Toronto immigration lawyer Aidan Simardone said the video constituted a 'huge privacy issue', potentially prejudicing any official decision on the band's entry and leaving them 'stuck in limbo'.
