The artist Mo Chara, from western Belfast in Northern Ireland, constitutes one third of the rap group Kneecap. He was prosecuted in May for having shown a Hezbollah flag during a concert at O2 Forum in Kentish Town in London in November last year. Mo Chara has denied the charge of terrorist crime.
The defense argued that the prosecution was brought too late and should therefore be declared invalid. They mean that the defendant was prosecuted on May 22 this year - one day after the statute of limitations had expired. The prosecutors claim that the prosecution was brought on May 21, just within the time limit.
An applause broke out in the courtroom when the decision was announced, and the group's manager Daniel Lambert writes on X that "We have won!!!". He states that there are now no charges against Kneecap. "Kneecap is on the right side of history, the UK is not. Free Palestine".
Outside the courthouse, Mo Chara spoke to a group of onlookers who had gathered.
It was always about Gaza, about what happens if you dare to take a stand... Your attempts to silence us have failed, because we are right and you are wrong, he said according to AFP.
