Pressure mounts in Czechia to drop Kneecap from Rock for People lineup

The Czech Federation of Jewish Communities has urged the organizers of one of Czechia’s largest music festivals to cancel the appearance of Northern Irish rap group Kneecap, citing the band’s alleged support for extremist groups and "undisguised anti-Semitism."

In a strongly worded public letter, Chief Rabbi Karol Efraim Sidon and federation chairman Petr Papoušek said the group’s participation in the Rock for People festival, held June 11–15 in Hradec Králové, would send a dangerous message.

“Freedom of expression has its limits,” the letter reads. “The glorification of violence, calls to kill, and support for organizations seeking to destroy other nations do not belong in the public sphere. The presence of Kneecap at your festival would not only be morally unacceptable but also dangerous—it would send a message that it is OK to normalize hatred, anti-Semitism and violence.”

The band has drawn criticism in the past for pro-Palestinian messages during concerts, including a performance at Coachella in April where they projected the statement: “Israel is committing genocide against the Palestinians and Americans are supporting them in their war crimes. Freedom for Palestine.”

Police in the UK are also investigating a video allegedly showing a group member chanting “for Hamas, for Hezbollah” at a London show while wrapped in the Hezbollah flag.

Festival organizers acknowledged the concerns but said the event remains a platform for diverse artistic voices.

“Rock for People is apolitical and built on respect for freedom of expression,” festival producer Anna Vasatková told Czech News Agency (ČTK). “Each performer is responsible for their expression in accordance with the law. Nearly 200 performers will perform at the festival, which offers fans a wide range of choices.”

Kneecap, formed in Belfast in 2017, is known for its political messaging and use of both English and Irish in its lyrics. The band’s name references a brutal IRA punishment method, and it frequently references Irish nationalist themes—some of which critics say flirt with glorifying past violence.

Festival organizers said they are “reviewing the situation” and will announce any further decisions in due course.

Yesterday, it was announced that the band would be removed from the TRNSMT Festival in Glasgow over public safety and policing concerns. The Irish musicians sold out a pre-sale for the Glasgow show in 80 seconds after being removed from the festival, reports BBC. The band is still slated to play Glastonbury on June 28.

The incident comes amid rising tensions in Czechia around public expressions of solidarity with Palestine. Earlier this week, activists illegally entered a Prague district town hall and replaced the Czech and EU flags with a Palestinian flag, drawing condemnation from officials and raising concerns about the politicization of public institutions.