Hungary ban an attempt to ‘silence’ Palestine supporters: Kneecap

Mo Chara of Irish rappers Kneecap performs at Glastonbury Festival near Pilton, Somerset, England, June 28, 2025. (AFP)
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Updated 24 July 2025
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Hungary ban an attempt to ‘silence’ Palestine supporters: Kneecap

  • Irish rap trio accuse authorities in Budapest of causing ‘political distraction’ after they are denied entry to play at popular festival
  • Group are famous supporters of Palestinian cause, accused Israel of war crimes

LONDON: Irish musicians Kneecap have branded their ban from Hungary a “political distraction” to “silence” support for Palestinians.

The rappers were due to perform at the Sziget Festival on Aug. 11, but have been banned from the country for three years over accusations of antisemitism.

Kneecap, famous for their support of the Palestinian cause, said in a statement their ban was a “further attempt to silence those who call out genocide against the Palestinian people.”

The statement added: “There is no legal basis for (the Hungarian government’s) actions, no member of Kneecap has ever been convicted of any crime in any country.

“We stand against all hate crimes and Kneecap champions love and solidarity as well as calling out injustices where we see it.”

In a post on social media platform X, Hungarian government spokesperson Zoltan Kovacs suggested the group would “seriously threaten national security,” and added: “Hungary’s government has moved to ban Kneecap from entering the country and performing at Sziget … citing antisemitic hate speech and open praise for Hamas and Hezbollah as justification.”

Kneecap caused controversy earlier this year after member Liam Og O hAnnaidh — who performs under the stage name Mo Chara  — displayed a Hezbollah flag at a concert. He is due to appear at a court in London on Aug. 20 charged with offenses under the UK Terrorism Act, which he denies. The band have stated they do not support Hezbollah or Hamas.

At Glastonbury Festival this year, Chara accused Israel of committing war crimes against the Palestinians.

More than 150 Hungarian artists and musicians signed a petition against Kneecap playing at Sziget. 

But festival organizers said the government’s ban was “both unnecessary and regrettable,” adding the group had “reassured us that their performance would not contravene either Sziget’s values or Hungarian law.”

The organizers added: “Sziget Festival’s values mean we condemn hate speech, while guaranteeing the fundamental right to artistic freedom of expression for every performer. Cancel culture and cultural boycotts are not the solution.

“We fear that (the) government’s decision announced today to ban Kneecap may not only damage the reputation of Sziget, but also negatively affect Hungary’s standing worldwide.”


Where We Are Going Today: Chicken Industry in Qatif

Updated 06 March 2026
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Where We Are Going Today: Chicken Industry in Qatif

If you were to ask me what the perfect weekend treat-yourself meal is, my first choice would be fried chicken, followed by fried chicken, followed by a burger (but make it fried chicken).

One of my favorite spots for this delicious indulgence is Chicken Industry in Qatif, which, over the past few years, has become a hometown classic.

They also opened another branch in Olaya, Alkhobar.

The great thing about Chicken Industry is that you really cannot go wrong with any item on their menu; the burgers, broasted, twister, tenders, and nuggets are all very well-seasoned, juicy, and crispy.

All their menu items are available in spicy and mild options.

They have a few burger selections.

The original chicken sandwich, which comes with American cheese, pickles, and their signature industry sauce (a must to get on the side with any order), is their take on the classic Popeyes/Chick-fil-A chicken sandwich.

For the big kahuna, the chicken is so juicy and flavorful with wonderfully crispy skin that my mouth is watering just thinking about it. (Instagram: @chickenindustry.ksa)

If you want to try a different type of sauce, you could give the black pepper buttermilk sandwich a go — a good option for those who like a balance of flavors between creamy and slightly zingy.

My go-to, however, is the chicken zinger, which comes with American cheese, mayonnaise, and lettuce — a no-fuss burger that has all the right toppings, sauce, and seasoning for the chicken.

Although, I would appreciate the option to add tomato as well for a little something fresh in there.

All of the Chicken Industry burgers come with a soft brioche bun. No notes; it’s a great bun.

The twister, made with two crispy tenders, is also a crowd favorite and comes in a few different options: the original with mild sauce, the fiery twister with spicy sauce, the classic with pepper mayo, and the spicy twister with pepper mayo as well.

Whether you do not want to commit to the full bun burger or just prefer a tortilla, the twister is a great option to either accompany or be the star of your meal.

Now onto the big kahuna: the broasted. If you really want to indulge, this is the option for you.

It comes with four pieces, either spicy or mild (trust me, get the spicy), and is served with garlic sauce on the side.

Although nothing compares to the Chicky Fry broasted, this one is a very close second. The chicken is so juicy and flavorful with wonderfully crispy skin; my mouth is watering just thinking about it.

Their nuggets are good, though not amazing — fun to snack on, but I wouldn’t call them a necessity and definitely not as good as their tenders or other options.

And I must say the Chicken Industry French fries could use some improvement; not the greatest texture or flavor, just sort of meh. I will continue to order them because at the end of the day, they are fries, and they’re alright. Besides, no fried chicken meal is complete without fries.

And do not forget to get the sauces on the side: the cheese, the garlic, the industry mild or spicy, buffalo, barbecue, and buttermilk, depending on your preference. They all complement the meal very well.