The trial of Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, a Northern Irish rapper who performs under the name “Mo Chara”, begins on Wednesday in London. He is facing terror charges for displaying the flag of Hizbullah, an Iran-backed Shia militia that is banned in Britain, during a concert in London last November. 

The rapper is a member of “Kneecap”, an Irish-language group known for their support for Irish Republicanism and criticism of Israel. The band are no strangers to controversy. Britain’s prime minister, Sir Keir Starmer, criticised the group after allegations that one member said “The only good Tory is a dead Tory. Kill your local MP” in 2023. 

The band denies supporting groups such as Hizbullah, or inciting violence. Since the charges, Kneecap have been removed from several festivals. But they have also witnessed a surge in interest in their music—the group has surpassed 1m monthly listeners on Spotify, a streaming platform.