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The placement of a cardboard replica of a mosque atop a loyalist bonfire pyre in County Tyrone has triggered a police investigation and widespread political condemnation, with authorities confirming the arrest of a 56-year-old man on suspicion of stirring up religious hatred.
The model of the Muslim place of worship was erected on the bonfire structure in Moygashel on Thursday, accompanied by placards bearing the slogans "Secure our borders" and "End the threat of radical Islam" . The pyre, constructed from wooden pallets, is scheduled to be ignited on Friday night as part of traditional Eleventh Night celebrations preceding the Orange Order's July 12 parades.
Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn condemned the display in the strongest possible terms, describing it as a "sickening and cowardly act of intimidation" in a social media post . "This is not about tradition, and in no way does it represent the vast majority of people in Northern Ireland," Mr Benn stated, adding: "We must stand united and completely reject such hatred".
The Police Service of Northern Ireland confirmed that a man had been detained under Article 9 of the Public Order (Northern Ireland) Order 1987, which criminalises the display of threatening, abusive or insulting written material intended or likely to stir up hatred or arouse fear . The suspect remains in custody as investigations continue.
Patrick Corrigan, Amnesty International's Northern Ireland director, labelled the bonfire installation a "vile display" and a "blatant attempt to stir up anti-Muslim hatred and intimidate local families" . In a statement to journalists, Mr Corrigan emphasised that placing an effigy of a mosque on a bonfire "amounts to incitement to hatred directed at real people who live, work and raise families in Northern Ireland" and urged police to "swiftly remove this material before it can be used to incite further hatred and violence".
Ulster Unionist Party leader Jon Burrows called for the "immediate removal of the offensive display," stating: "Bonfires are an important cultural tradition for many within the unionist community... However, that tradition is undermined when bonfires are used to intimidate, provoke or demean others" . He added: "There can be no place for placing any place of worship on a bonfire and setting it alight".
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew condemned the display as "deplorable," asserting it represents "a clear hate crime fuelled by hate and those that seek to bring division to our communities" . Alliance Party councillor Eddie Roofe described the bonfire as "hateful and deeply offensive," stating: "Those responsible seek only to instil fear and spread hatred towards a specific group of people who call Northern Ireland their home".
The Moygashel Bonfire Association, which erected the display, issued a statement characterising it as an act of "political protest" against "uncontrolled illegal mass immigration" . The group argued their display was "an exercise in our rights under Article 10 of the ECHR" and noted "with some irony that it is the ECHR which has so often paved the way for mass illegal immigration... that also now protects our right to protest in robust terms against that".
The organisation insisted its opposition was "not to people, but rather to ideology and Government policy" and claimed the display "expressly does NOT target any individual" . However, critics have pointed to the group's history of provocative displays, including last year's burning of effigies depicting migrants in a boat at the same site.
SDLP councillor Carl Whyte described the display as "absolutely disgusting," telling the BBC's Good Morning Ulster programme: "The singling out of an entire religion, an entire faith, is just shameful".
This incident follows the removal of a banner from a children's play park in Moygashel last month, which police were treating as a hate crime . Local residents have expressed growing concern about the escalating nature of displays at the site, which has become a recurring focal point of contention during the marching season.
Approximately 300 bonfires are expected to be lit across Northern Ireland this weekend as part of traditional celebrations marking the anniversary of the Battle of the Boyne . While most pass without incident, a minority have become flashpoints for sectarian and racist displays, with election posters, flags, and effigies often placed on the structures before ignition.
Police have confirmed they are monitoring the situation and investigating whether the Moygashel display constitutes a criminal offence under legislation designed to prevent the stirring up of religious hatred . Amnesty International has called for decisive police action to ensure those responsible are "identified and held to account"
Daily Dazzling Dawn understands that community leaders in the Dungannon area are planning emergency meetings to address the escalating tensions and discuss strategies for promoting community cohesion ahead of the traditional parades.
