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 contravention of Article 9 of the Public Order (NI) Order 1987 and was in custody.

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.

Article 9 of the Public Order (NI) Order 1987 relates to the use of language or written material which is threatening, abusive or insulting and intended to stir up hatred or arouse fear.

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

"Seeing the replica of a mosque placed on top of a bonfire is deeply upsetting for Muslims across all of Northern Ireland," he told the BBC's Nolan Show.

"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."

Akram added: "Of course we do fully recognise that people have the right to celebrate their culture and traditions.

"However, no cultural celebration should involve another community or targeting their place of worship or identity."

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

Racially-motivated riots broke out last month after a video of a man being injured in knife attack in Belfast was shared on social media and caused widespread outrage.

Akram said people in his community were worried about their personal security and the Moygashel display would exacerbate their concerns.

"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 called on political parties to "condemn acts that deliberately inflame tensions".

It is not the first time Moygashel's annual bonfire has hit the headlines over its contentious displays.

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.

Sinn Féin condemned the latest display as "racist".

"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.

"This is fuelled by hate and those that seek to bring division to our communities."

Gildernew added: "The PSNI must investigate this as a matter of urgency to remove this disgraceful display."

In a statement, the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) 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.

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

"There is no place in Moygashel, Mid Ulster or anywhere else for anti-Muslim hate, racism or the demonisation of an entire community," he said.

"People should be able to live, worship, work and raise their families here without fear, intimidation or being used as targets for political stunts on a bonfire.

"Those responsible need to take this down immediately, and this should be treated with the seriousness it deserves by the authorities."