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

News imageBBC An image of the top of the bonfire, consisting of wood pallets, with a structure resembling a mosque on top. Two placards are below. One reads "secure our borders" while another reads "end the threat of radical Islam".BBC
The structure on top of the bonfire resembles a mosque

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.

In 2025, an effigy of refugees in a boat was placed on top of the Moygashel 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.

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."

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.