Police in the United Kingdom attempted to remove a replica of a mosque from above a loyalist “Eleventh Night” bonfire in Northern Ireland on Thursday night, prompting organizers to light the pyre a day earlier.
The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) previously said the bonfire display in the town of Moygashel, County Tyrone, was being treated as a “hate-motivated criminal offence” and charged the 56-year-old with inciting hatred.
Authorities said they had launched a “significant and complex policing operation” to remove “hate displays” and safeguard “abusive material”. But he said the bonfire was lit prematurely while the operation was at an “advanced stage”.
A PSNI spokesman said: “Had the bonfire not been lit, police would have secured the site, removed the objectionable material and seized it as evidence.”
Chief Superintendent Norman Haslett said: “Hate crime has no place in our society and will not be tolerated,” and added:
“That’s why tonight we launched a proactive policing campaign to take action and remove the hate display from the Moygashell bonfire. The bonfire was lit the day before to prevent criminal material being removed before police arrived. Where there is evidence that crimes have been committed, we will take stronger action.”
Northern Ireland: what are the bonfires about?
The replica of the mosque, which was visible over a pyre with the Arabic words “Islamic Fascism” written on it, was widely condemned by political parties, religious leaders and human rights groups.
Signs such as “Secure our borders” and “End the threat of radical Islam” have also been placed on the pyre, which will be lit on Friday night to mark “The Eleventh Night” on 11 July, ahead of further unionist celebrations and parades on “The Twelfth” – on 12 July.
For the Loyalist community in Northern Ireland, bonfires are a reminder of the Glorious Revolution of 1688, when the Protestant King William III of Orange deposed the Catholic King James II of England, and the subsequent Protestant victory at the Battle of the Boyne in 1690 in what is now the Republic of Ireland.
The Protestant community in Northern Ireland wants to remain part of the United Kingdom and opposes the idea of Irish unification.
Most “Eleventh Night” bonfires end without incident, but, in some cases, Catholic and Irish Republican symbols such as Irish flags or religious effigies are placed on the pyres before burning, sparking sectarian controversy.
In recent years, anti-immigration symbols have also appeared on bonfires, including in Moygashell last year, when politicians condemned effigies of migrants in a boat that were burnt along with a sign saying “Stop the boats”.
The three-word phrase refers to illegal English Channel crossings by asylum seekers and has become a rallying cry for anti-immigrant sentiment in Britain.
This year’s controversy comes just weeks after violent anti-immigration riots erupted in Northern Ireland in predominantly pro-British areas following a knife attack by a Sudanese refugee.
Bonfire organiser: act of ‘political protest’
The organizers of the bonfire, the Moygashel Bonfire Association, claimed that the replica of the mosque was an act of “political protest” against “uncontrolled illegal mass immigration”, which they called an “issue of vital public interest”.
A statement urged that the bonfire demonstration “does not explicitly target any individual” and that the group was protesting “ideology and government policy” rather than people.
“If there was not rampant illegal mass immigration, we would not need to protest on this issue,” he said.
UK minister: ‘Cowardly act of intimidation’
But local politicians, religious leaders and human rights organizations saw it differently.
Britain’s Northern Ireland Secretary Hillary Benn described the addition of the replica mosque to the bonfire display as a “disgusting and cowardly act of bullying”.
He said, “This is not about tradition and it does not in any way represent the majority of the people of Northern Ireland.”
Amnesty International described it as a “despicable demonstration” and a “blatant attempt to incite anti-Muslim hatred and intimidate local families”.
Local Protestant Archbishop John McDowell and Catholic Archbishop Eamon Martin issued a joint statement calling the incident “deeply offensive” and urging people to show tolerance towards other religions.
He said, “We urge Christians and all people of good will to carefully consider their actions that could incite violence against innocent people, all of whom are made in the image of God and therefore worthy of respect and compassion.”
“We would like to assure our Muslim fellow citizens and those who are living and working here of the goodwill and respect of the majority of people here,” he said.
Unionist politicians condemn ‘aggressive demonstration’
Loyalist politicians insist on the right of the unionist community to celebrate its traditions and hold political protests, but insist that this must always remain legal.
A spokesman for the British nationalist Democratic Union Party (DUP) said, “The lighting of bonfires on 11 July is a historical and cultural tradition that extends back to the fire lit to welcome the arrival of King William III.”
“These should be positive cultural celebrations. We support those in our community who want to celebrate their culture while continuing that tradition in a peaceful manner,” the spokesperson said. “Placing flags, effigies or other items on bonfires is not part of that tradition and should not happen.”
Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) leader John Burrows called for the “immediate removal of the offensive display”, which he said “undermines an important cultural tradition”.
“Sadly,” he said, “images of this bonfire will once again travel around the world, damaging Northern Ireland’s reputation and playing into the hands of critics of unionist and loyalist culture.”
Edited by: Shawn Sinico
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