Ottawa, 26 November (H.S.): The Canadian Prime Minister’s Office and the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) have formally disavowed any involvement in a public announcement made by a Liberal MP in September banning the controversial Irish rap group Kneecap from entering the country.

The revelation, tabled in the House of Commons, complicates the affair and raises questions about the legitimacy of the initial declaration, which was made on behalf of the government.

The controversy began when Vince Gasparro, Parliamentary Secretary for Combating Crime, announced the ban, citing a UK terror charge against band member Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh. That charge, related to allegedly displaying a Hezbollah flag, was subsequently thrown out by a British court due to a technical error in how it was brought.

In response to Gasparro's announcement, Kneecap threatened legal action, labeling his statements wholly untrue and deeply malicious.Despite the reversal of the terror case and the disavowal from top offices, the band is still not permitted to enter Canada.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) clarified that Ó hAnnaidh's travel authorization had been cancelled separately in August for providing incomplete and inaccurate information on his application. The applications for the other two members of the Belfast-based trio are still under review.

The new documents confirm that neither the Prime Minister's Office nor the CBSA were consulted on Gasparro's decision to announce the ban, a move he claimed was based on advice from officials.

Kneecap, known for their provocative Irish-language lyrics and political activism, has previously been at the center of controversies, including winning a legal case against the UK government and displaying messages about the war in Gaza at a US music festival.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar