Showing support for terrorism is illegal so why do people do it?

[Nowayyousure]

Well we all know it's illegal, don't we?

It happens though. The flags, the signs, the slogans, the chants, what is said etc.

Kneecap was charged on supporting terrorism. I understand that the charges relate to things like waving the Hezbollah flag and shouting in support of terrorist organisations.

He has been bailed pending trial.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cy4k4xnlj8qo

He has lots of supporters

https://www.jns.org/crowd-gathers-in-london-in-support-of-pro-hezbollah-rapper/

I get that people are against war, but why are they showing support for terrorists?

We have had terrorist attacks from supporters of terrorism in Manchester and London, do we really want the terrorists thinking we support their aims.

I mean I wouldn't go out and show support for those that bombed the World Trade Centres or London Tubes and buses or Manchester Arena. Wearing colours of terrorists and showing them support increasing more hatred.

Isn't the best way just wanting peace.

The original story when he was charged. Glastonbury festival immediately dropped him from the line up.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx2qq2n3800o

“One man’s freedom fighter is another man’s terrorist”

Lots of people just think terrorist are good guys. Lots of people aren’t very intelligent. Take Americans who funded the IRA for years. They thought they were doing a good thing. You get people who thought the Hamas attacks on 7th October were a good thing.

Tell that to the victims of the Manchester Arena bomber.

"The Manchester Arena bombing, or Manchester Arena attack, was an Islamic terrorist suicide bombing of Manchester Arena in Manchester, England, on 22 May 2017, following a concert by the American pop singer Ariana Grande. Perpetrated by Islamic extremist Salman Abedi and aided by his brother, Hashem Abedi, the bombing occurred at 22:31 and killed 22 people, injured 1,017, and destroyed the arena's foyer. It was the deadliest act of terrorism and the first suicide bombing in the United Kingdom since the 7 July 2005 London bombings."

Do some people really think that Salman Abedi was a freedom fighter? Seriously. It was awful to see.

Awful isn't it.

For Kneecap the details are:

"Officers from the Met's counter terrorism command were made aware on 22 April of an online video from the event.
Belfast man Mr Ó hAnnaidh has been charged under the name Liam O'Hanna.
An investigation was carried out, which led to the Crown Prosecution Service authorising the charge.
Earlier this month, the Met said it would investigate online videos allegedly showing the group calling for the death of British MPs and shouting "up Hamas, up Hezbollah".
Both Hamas and Hezbollah are banned in the UK and it is a crime to express support for them.
Hezbollah is a Shia Muslim political and military group in Lebanon which has been involved in a series of violent conflicts.
Kneecap say they have never supported Hamas or Hezbollah and would not incite violence against any individual. They say the video in question has been taken out of context.
A number of gigs featuring the band have been called off since the videos emerged.
They are currently scheduled to headline Wide Awake festival in Brockwell Park, south London, on Friday."

I mean surely it will be easy to see if they did show support by waving the flags or calling for deaths. If the videos show that, or don't show that, then the case should be easy

Unfortunately, critical thinking seems to become the rarest commodity these days.

He picked up a flag someone threw on stage. Crime of the century.

Terrorists (and their supporters) don't perceived themselves to be terrorists but legitimate combatants in an armed struggle. People who are deep into jihadist ideology would make excuses for the likes of Salman Abedi because their poisonous ideology sees the lives of non-believers as being expendable.

You're going to get plenty of apologists posting - oh they already have.

Did he? If it was as simple as merely picking up a flag someone threw at him then why the charges of saying "up Hamas, up Hezbollah"? It'd not crime of the century to pick up a flag thrown at you but saying things (if he said them) that incite terrorism is.

“The allegation in this case is a wholly different thing and deals with the video recording showing that, in November of last year, Mr O’Hanna wore and displayed the flag of Hezbollah … while saying ‘up Hamas, up Hezbollah’.”

It's important to be careful because some terrorist supporters might interpret words as wanting individuals to go out and commit terrorist offences against innocent people here. As per the Manchester arena bombing. The bomber apparently did it for the people in Syria. (Obviously it didn't help them at all).

Why don’t ye arrest Tom Jones for stealing women’s knickers next?

Yellow flag of Hezbollah around his shoulders. Perhaps he didn't realise supporting terrorism was illegal. He might just be a bit thick and not understand the meaning of the flag. Who knows.

However, 'Up Hezbollah' or 'Up Hamas' are things that you would imagine someone says if they support the organisations. I've removed the link showing but it's easily searchable online.

Nice to make a joke out of something so serious. Of course, it's clear why this A hole is being protected.

Well @Dangermooit’s hard to take a country who is supplying arms to a genocidal maniac seriously when they prosecute a rap artist for picking up a flag.

You could say the same about people showing support for the British army after all the atrocities they committed eg Bloody Sunday, Ballymurphy Massacre etc

One man’s terrorist is another man’s freedom fighter. One person’s “peace keeping” force is another person’s oppressor.

Kneecap gig in London in November 2023 ---- "Kill Your MP"

Seriously though, MP's have been attacked and killed. Surely we don't want to promote attacks on people who are MP.

Why is it clear?

Preach!

Would you think saying "Kill your MP" is ok? is that part of what a freedom fighter does? Do we really want that type of violence here?

Who gets to decide which cause is worthy and which is not?
How do you define a terrorist?

History is littered with people who achieved something we now consider worthy only because they resorted to violence. Peaceful protest rarely works.

Go read the CITME board.

The Manchester Arena bomber is a terrorist to me.

Would you call him a terrorist?