Outrage, worldwide condemnation, shock, horror and arrests as loyalists burn Muslim symbols instead of Catholic ones this year

Paul McRingo | Northern Correspondent

A bonfire with a replica mosque on top in Moygashel, Co Tyrone has brought widespread outrage, condemnation, shock, horror, disbelief and devastation. Several people have been hospitalised after feeling offended and there has also been an arrest.

Amnesty International director Brian Shaftesbury has described the bonfire as a “vile, dehumanising act that fuels hatred and racism”.

“Burning effigies of Catholics is one thing but Muslims? Everyone knows that is not allowed. They crossed a line this time.” he said.

“Amnesty International urges the authorities to ensure the immediate removal of the mosque and the reinstallation of Irish flags and effigies of Nationalist politicians. Didn’t they have one of the Pope one year? That was kinda cute.”

The Police had described the replica mosque as a “hate display” and intended to remove it, but before they could, the bonfire was set alight.

In decades of loyalists burning Irish flags and images of Nationalist politicians as well as anything remotely linked to the Catholic church, the Police in the North never once described any of it as a hate display and never made any attempts to remove anything or arrest anyone.

Local Unionist politician Samuel Winterbottom said he doesn’t see what the problem is.

“This is simply a case of artistic freedom of expression. Some people like to create sculptures or paint a pretty landscape. We like to burn stuff. Frankly I don’t see the difference.”