Kneecap banned from Hungary weeks before major festival24 July 2025Getty ImagesThe band was supposed to perform at the Sziget Festival, in Budapest, in AugustThe west Belfast rap group Kneecap have been banned from Hungary for three years, the secretary of state for international communication has said.In a statement on social media, Zoltan Kovacs said the band members "repeatedly engage in anti-Semitic hate speech supporting terrorism and terrorist groups".The band was supposed to perform at the Sziget Festival, in Budapest, in August.In a statement on social media, Kneecap said: "There is no legal basis for his actions, no member of Kneecap has ever been convicted of a crime any country."Getty ImagesHungarian politician Zoltan Kovacs says the band's "planned performance posed a national security threat"Kovacs also said: "Hungary has zero tolerance for antisemitism in any form."Their planned performance posed a national security threat, and for this reason, the group has been formally banned from Hungary for three years."If they enter, expulsion will follow under international norms."Kneecap have previously said they have never supported Hamas or Hezbollah."To the tens of thousands of fans who we were buzzing to see in person at Sziget, we're sorry we won't be with you," the band said in a statement."It's clear this is political distraction and a further attempt to silence those who call out genocide against the Palestinian people."Both Hamas and Hezbollah are banned in the UK and it is a crime to express support for them.He was released on unconditional bail and in a statement, posted on social media in May, Kneecap said: "We deny this 'offence' and will vehemently defend ourselves."Getty ImagesThe rap trio have courted controversy with their provocative lyricsAvon and Somerset Police launched a criminal investigation into comments made on stage by the band after their performance at Glastonbury in June, but decided no further action would be taken.The question over whether Kneecap should even perform at Glastonbury drew comment over the weeks before the festival, with the prime minister stepping in to say he did not think it was "appropriate".Who are Kneecap?The group was formed in 2017 by three musicians who go by the stage names of Mo Chara, Móglaí Bap and DJ Próvaí.In April, the group faced criticism after displaying messages about the war in Gaza during their set at US music festival Coachella.In November 2024, the group won its case against the UK government over a decision Kemi Badenoch took when she was a minister to withdraw an arts grant.