A replica of a mosque placed atop a towering loyalist bonfire in Northern Ireland has sparked widespread condemnation, with politicians, community leaders and rights groups describing it as an act of anti-Muslim hatred and intimidation.Police have arrested a 56-year-old man on suspicion of offences linked to stirring up hatred ahead of the annual July 12 bonfire celebrations.According to news agency Reuters, the structure was erected in the village of Moygashel in County Tyrone, where bonfires are traditionally lit in mainly Protestant loyalist areas on the eve of commemorations marking King William III’s victory over the Catholic King James II at the Battle of the Boyne in 1690.The replica mosque was placed on top of a large stack of wooden pallets, alongside banners reading “Secure our borders” and “End the threat of radical Islam”.The display also featured an effigy of a person visible through one of the mosque’s windows holding an object resembling a knife.
Police arrest 56-year-old man
Police said a 56-year-old man was arrested on Thursday on suspicion of displaying threatening, abusive or insulting material intended to stir up hatred. He remained in custody as investigations continued.Britain’s Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn condemned the display, calling it “a sickening and cowardly act of intimidation”.Writing on X, he said the incident did not represent the overwhelming majority of people in Northern Ireland and urged unity against hatred.Irish nationalist party Sinn Féin also called for immediate action, with MLA Colm Gildernew describing the display as a clear hate crime. Other major pro-British political parties also criticised the installation.
Muslim community says display fuels fear
Kashif Akram of the Belfast Islamic Centre said the replica mosque was “deeply upsetting” for Muslims across Northern Ireland.“A mosque is a place of worship, peace and community, and to use it in this way is experienced as an act of intimidation and disrespect towards an entire faith community,” he said.Akram said many Muslims were already living with heightened anxiety following racist attacks and anti-immigrant unrest in Belfast and other towns last month, adding that such displays only deepen fears about safety and belonging.The chair of the Loyalist Communities Council, David Campbell, also criticised the installation, saying it was “entirely wrong” and contradicted the principles of religious liberty traditionally associated with the Twelfth of July celebrations.While acknowledging concerns over illegal immigration as a legitimate political issue, he said targeting a place of worship was unacceptable.
Rights groups allege incitement to hatred
Amnesty International accused organisers of attempting to inflame anti-Muslim sentiment. “This vile display is a blatant attempt to stir up anti-Muslim hatred and intimidate local families,” Patrick Corrigan, Amnesty International’s Northern Ireland director, said.He urged police to investigate the incident as a potential hate crime and ensure the material was removed before it could incite further violence.
Organisers defend display as political protest
The Moygashel Bonfire Association defended the installation, saying it was intended as a political protest against what it described as “uncontrolled illegal mass immigration” and the government’s failure to deport foreign criminals.In a statement, the association said the display was protected under Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which safeguards freedom of expression.It maintained that the installation was not directed at any individual or religious community. “Our opposition is not to people, but rather to ideology and government policy,” the group said, adding that the display addressed “an issue of significant public interest” and could “shock, offend or outrage” some people.
Bonfire tradition faces scrutiny
The controversy comes just weeks after anti-migrant riots erupted in Belfast and other parts of Northern Ireland following a knife attack in which a man from Sudan or Chad has been charged with attempted murder, according to Reuters.Moygashel’s bonfire has drawn criticism before. Last year, organisers burned an effigy depicting dark-skinned mannequins wearing life jackets in a boat.Similar anti-immigration messaging has increasingly appeared at some loyalist bonfires, replacing the anti-Irish nationalist symbols that traditionally featured during the annual commemorations. Police also removed a “Muslims Not Welcome” banner from a children’s playground in Moygashel last month.
