OTTAWA, ON – In the wake of controversial performances at the Glastonbury Festival, growing calls from across the political spectrum are urging Canadian authorities to deny entry to English punk duo Bob Vylan and Irish hip-hop group Kneecap. The demands follow accusations that both acts have either glorified or promoted terrorist groups, or incited hatred against the people of Israel.
The controversy surrounding Bob Vylan intensified after their performance at Glastonbury, during which vocalist Bobby Vylan (real name Pascal Robinson-Foster) led chants of “Death, death to the IDF!” and “Hell yeah, from the river to the sea, Palestine must be, will be – inshallah – it will be free.” Robinson-Foster also made a complaint on stage about “working for a f***ing Zionist.” The chant “From the River to the Sea” is commonly heard at anti-Israel rallies and is widely interpreted as a call for the elimination of the Jewish State of Israel and the genocide of its citizens, advocating for a Palestinian state to extend from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea. Given that military service is mandatory in Israel for most Jewish citizens, inciting violence against the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) is seen by many as effectively calling for the death of all adult Israelis.
The fallout has been swift for Bob Vylan. Local police in the UK have opened a criminal investigation, and the duo was reportedly dropped by their talent agency. The U.S. State Department also revoked their visas, effectively cancelling upwards of 20 upcoming American shows. Christopher Landau, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State, stated that “Foreigners who glorify violence and hatred are not welcome visitors to our country.”
Irish hip-hop group Kneecap is also facing scrutiny. Member Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, 27, faces terrorism charges in the UK after reportedly waving the flag of Lebanese terror group Hezbollah at a London show last November. Furthermore, continued hateful comments during their April performance at Coachella led to them being dropped by their U.S. visa sponsor and American booking agent. Kneecap is currently scheduled to play three shows in Toronto this October.
In Canada, Liberal MP Anthony Housefather is among those pressing the federal government to bar Bob Vylan from future entry. He told the Toronto Sun that “Their conduct at Glastonbury should render them inadmissible for entry,” confirming he has conveyed his views to Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree. Conservative MP Michelle Rempel Garner echoed these sentiments, stating, “The Liberals should follow the lead of the Labour Party in the UK, denounce their hate speech, and ensure they can’t profit off of hate in Canada by denying them entry.”
On Monday, the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA) joined the chorus of voices calling for both Bob Vylan and Kneecap to be denied entry to Canada. A statement posted online by CIJA read, “Kneecap member Mo Chara (Ó hAnnaidh) is facing terrorism-related charges in the UK, and both bands made headlines at the Glastonbury Festival for inciting hate and glorifying violence – conduct that violates Canadian hate speech laws and contradicts our core values.”
Despite these mounting calls, responses from the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) have indicated no immediate intent to follow suit with the U.S. stance. A statement from the CBSA noted, “The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) is not in a position to comment on this specific case,” and strangely referred the Toronto Sun to the U.S. State Department for comment. The statement further clarified that the CBSA’s role is to “assess the security risk and admissibility of goods and persons coming to Canada,” with admissibility decisions made on a “case-by-case basis” and based on information available at the time of entry.
The pressure on the Canadian government highlights a broader debate about freedom of expression versus the potential for incitement to hatred and violence, especially in the context of ongoing international conflicts. Critics argue that allowing these groups to perform in Canada would be tantamount to permitting the promotion of hatred in Canada, directly contradicting Canadian values and potentially Canadian law.
