Kneecap Travel Ban: Canada Government Clarification Needed
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Canada’s opposition party has asked the government to clarify whether the Belfast rap trio Kneecap have been barred from the country after doubts emerged over their status.
The Liberal MP Vince Gasparro, the parliamentary secretary for combating crime, posted a video on social media on 19 September in which he said Kneecap were “ineligible” to enter Canada.
Gasparro alleged that the band glorified “terrorist organisations” and that they “amplified political violence and publicly displayed support for terrorist organisations such as Hezbollah and Hamas”. He said he was making the video on ”behalf of the government of Canada” and acting on official advice.
The band, comprising Naoise Ó Cairealláin, Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh and JJ Ó Dochartaigh, say they have never supported Hamas or Hezbollah and would not incite violence against any individual.in an online statement addressing the MP, the band said: “Your comments about us are wholly untrue and deeply malicious. We will not accept it.”
The veracity of Gasparro’s claim was called into question after officials failed to provide any further information,including if there was a ban,notably after a British magistrate on Monday threw out a terror-related charge against Ó hAnnaidh.
On Wednesday the federal Conservative party called on Gasparro to provide clarity. “He either lied or he has no clue how it effectively works.And I find it hard to believe that he has no clue how it effectively works,” the party’s deputy leader, Melissa Lantsman, told Global News.
Gasparro told reporters on Friday that he had made the video “based on the information that was available”.
Key Individuals Involved
| Name | Role | Affiliation |
|---|---|---|
| Vince Gasparro | Parliamentary Secretary for Combating Crime | Liberal Party of Canada |
| Melissa Lantsman | Deputy Leader | conservative |