A 300-year-old bonfire tradition in Northern Ireland has turned its flames on Muslims, sparking widespread condemnation. The bonfire, held in the village of Moygashel, County Tyrone, featured a replica mosque with a figure holding what appeared to be an ISIS flag and banners reading ‘Secure our borders’ and ‘End the threat of radical Islam’.

Condemnation and Arrest

The display has been widely condemned, with the Church of Ireland and Catholic archbishops issuing a rare joint statement calling it ‘grossly offensive.’ Britain’s Northern Ireland Secretary, Hilary Benn, called it a ‘sickening and cowardly act of intimidation.’ A 56-year-old man has been charged with incitement to hatred and denied bail.

The incident has highlighted a rise in anti-Muslim hate crimes in Northern Ireland and the wider UK. According to Amnesty International, race hate crime in Northern Ireland has reached its highest level since records began in 2004.

Response and Concerns

Naomi Green, assistant secretary general of the Muslim Council of Britain, expressed concern over the growing ‘expressions of hate’ and ‘incitement against certain groups.’ She emphasized the need for better leadership and responsible conversations to address these issues.

The incident has also sparked concerns over the normalization of racism in Northern Ireland. The Muslim Council of Britain has called for action to be taken to prevent such incidents in the future.

Original reporting: KTVZ (Central Oregon) — read the source article.