A chara, – Counter-terrorism police in the UK have found reason to investigate Belfast rappers Kneecap (“Kneecap videos to be investigated by UK’s counter-terrorism police”, News, May 1st).
This is the latest chilling reminder that speaking out against war crimes seems to have more consequences than funding or supporting them.
Of course, there can never be any justification for calling on people to murder elected political representatives or for supporting designated terrorist organisations, but surely there is a distinction between what rappers say on stage and what actions politicians are prepared to take while thousands of people are being slaughtered.
It is telling that UK counter-terrorism police have not undertaken to investigate UK surveillance flights over Gaza on behalf of Israel, arms sales from British companies to Israel while it is under investigation by the International Court of Justice, or expressions of political support for Israel’s far-right government.
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Rappers on stage engaging in ill-judged bluster are far easier targets than the people who are actively enabling or even supporting a terrible injustice in Palestine, which has resulted in the loss of at least 52,000 lives. – Le gach dea ghuí,
CIARAN TIERNEY,
Galway city.
