Replica of mosque on bonfire condemned as 'anti-Muslim hatred'

A replica of a mosque on top of a bonfire has been condemned as "anti-Muslim hatred".

The bonfire, in Moygashel in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland, has featured other controversial displays in the past.

Police said a 56-year-old man had been arrested on suspicion of displaying threatening, abusive or insulting material which is intended to stir up hatred.

Kashif Akram from Belfast Islamic Centre said the display was distressing and insulting to people from his community.

In a statement, the Moygashel Bonfire Association said the bonfire combined cultural expression with political protest and that the display was in not targeted at individuals but at "ideology and government policy".

Akram told the BBC's Nolan Show that the replica of the mosque was deeply upsetting for Muslims in 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 he recognised that people had the right to celebrate culture and traditions but that this should not involve "another community or targeting their place of worship or identity".

He said many Muslims were already "living with heightened anxiety" following racist attacks in Belfast and other parts of Northern Ireland.

These included riots in June after a man was injured in a knife attack in Belfast.

Akram said Muslims were worried about their personal security and the Moygashel display would make them even more concerned.

"Incidents like this that you see on top of the bonfire only deepen those fears and make people question whether they are fully and truly accepted and safe in Northern Ireland," he said.

Patrick Corrigan from Amnesty International called the display "a blatant attempt to stir up anti-Muslim hatred and intimidate local families".

"The placing of an effigy of a mosque on top of a bonfire amounts to incitement to hatred directed at real people who live, work and raise families in Northern Ireland," he said.

In its statement, Moygashel Bonfire Association said the display might "shock, offend or outrage", but said those involved in making it were exercising their right to freedom of expression.

It said the replica of the mosque did not target any individual, adding: "Our opposition is not to people, but rather to ideology and government policy."

The group said the display focused on "an issue of significant public interest".

"If there was no uncontrolled illegal mass immigration, we would have no need to protest on this issue," the statement said.

It added that the display "reflects the views of many communities in Northern Ireland".

It is not the first time Moygashel's annual bonfire has featured a contentious display.

In 2025, an effigy of refugees in a boat was placed on top of the bonfire and was set on fire when the bonfire was lit.

In 2024 a replica of a police car was burnt, while in 2023 a picture of the then Taoiseach (Irish prime minister) Leo Varadkar and an Irish flag were placed on the bonfire.

Bonfires are lit annually in some unionist areas across Northern Ireland in July to usher in the Twelfth of July, the main date in the parading season.

The majority are lit on 11 July, known as the Eleventh night.

The Twelfth commemorates the Battle of the Boyne in 1690 when the Protestant King William III defeated Catholic King James II.

The CEO of First Steps Women's Centre in Dungannon, which is used by a number of women from migrant communities including Muslim women, said the bonfire display was appalling.

"My heart goes out to all the people who live in this area. Everybody I know is completely shocked and saddened and there is fear there as well," Micahel McGoldrick said.

"What we've seen on this bonfire is a retrograde step."

Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn described the effigy as a "sickening and cowardly act of intimidation".

In a post on social media, he said: "This is not about tradition, and in no way does it represent the vast majority of people in Northern Ireland."

Sinn Féin condemned it as "racist" and called on the Police Service of Northern Ireland to to remove it.

"This is an absolutely deplorable act following on previous hate displays at this location," said its Fermanagh and South Tyrone assembly member Colm Gildernew.

"The signage and effigy on the Moygashel bonfire is a clear hate crime."

In a statement, the Democratic Unionist Party said July bonfires "should be positive cultural celebrations".

"The placing of flags, effigies or other items on bonfires is not part of that tradition and should not take place," the party added.

Alliance councillor Eddie Roofe described the mosque effigy as "utterly abhorrent" and said it "must be removed immediately".

Social Democratic and Labour Party councillor for the area, Karol McQuade, said the mosque display was "vile, dangerous and deeply irresponsible".

Ulster Unionist Party leader, Jon Burrows, called for the "immediate removal of the offensive display".

"There can be no place for placing any place of worship on a bonfire and setting it alight. It is simply wrong," he said.

Ron McDowell from the Traditional Unionist Voice said he did not condone the mosque effigy but he also would not call for it to be removed.

"I don't support it, the bonfire makers can come on and defend the model themselves," McDowell told the Nolan Show.

"What I'm defending is the message and their right to articulate their concerns.

"Bonfires have been used like this right across Europe, right across the world. We burn Guy Fawkes in the UK."

He said the mosque effigy was not aimed at all Muslims but was instead a protest against "radical Islam".