Muslim Community Reacts to Mosque Replica Burned on Bonfire
Nora Rashwan shared that until recently, she had only encountered racism online and not in person.
A replica of a mosque was set ablaze atop a bonfire in Moygashel, County Tyrone, just weeks after residents fled their homes amid race riots. This act has been described as "a very painful moment for Muslims".
The model was placed on the bonfire on Wednesday and ignited on Thursday evening.
Business owners, community and religious organizations, along with several individuals who have made Northern Ireland their home, have voiced their concerns.
There are growing fears that Islamophobia in Northern Ireland is worsening after three consecutive summers of riots.
The effigy was placed on top of the pyre on Wednesday
'This is not culture anymore, it's hate'
Dr Umar Al-Qadri expressed that the bonfire effigy caused significant distress among Muslims in both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
As chair of the Irish Muslim Peace and Integration Council, he stated:
"For us this isn't a political statement, for us, it's a message of exclusion, and intimidation, that you do not belong here, you do not belong in Northern Ireland."
He acknowledged people's right to celebrate traditions but emphasized that incorporating flags, images of political leaders, and mosques on bonfires transforms the act from tradition into one of hate and intimidation.
"This is not culture anymore. This goes beyond that."
Dr Al-Qadri also noted feeling supported by the police and church leaders.
"As a Muslim community, we know that the vast majority of people in Northern Ireland are very welcoming and very kind,"
he said, while also acknowledging an increase in such incidents.
The bonfire was lit on Thursday evening
'We don't know what will happen next'
Nora Rashwan, owner of a Lebanese restaurant in Belfast city centre, described burning a mosque replica as crossing a "red line".
In a social media post, she expressed deep concern among many Muslims in Northern Ireland regarding threats or acts targeting mosques during bonfire celebrations.
"Such actions are completely unacceptable and can never be justified,"
she stated.
Speaking on BBC Radio Ulster's Talkback programme, Rashwan said racism has been a persistent issue and expressed uncertainty about future developments.
She emphasized the need for safety and shared that until now, she had only encountered racism online, not face to face.
Representatives of the loyalist community and those responsible for the bonfire stated the display was intended to express disagreement with ideology and government policy.
In a statement, the Moygashel Bonfire Association acknowledged the display might "shock, offend or outrage" but asserted that those involved were exercising their right to freedom of expression.
The association clarified that the mosque replica was not aimed at any individual, stating:
"Our opposition is not to people, but rather to ideology and government policy."
Loyalist activist Jamie Bryson, present when the bonfire was lit on Thursday night, told NI:
"Nobody in the unionist or loyalist community should be targeting anybody. I want to reassure the Muslim people that this is not about them as people. People disagree with their ideology, with their viewpoint, but it's not about them."
'We are a peaceful community'
Wasif Naeem from the Belfast Islamic Centre stated that the community was upset and offended by the incident.
"They are essentially targeting the whole community. We don't stand for violence,"he said.
Naeem also expressed concern that Islamophobia is worsening after three summers of riots in Northern Ireland.
"It is getting worse and worse,"he added.
Mohamaed Afnan commented on religious intolerance, saying:
"There are certain people who don't like certain religions but that is part of life."
He also noted that most people are kind.
Billy remarked:
"It should not be happening. We are a peaceful community trying to live out here trying to practice our faith there is nothing wrong with that."
Huzzi described the event as unprecedented and frightening:
"What happened last night I've never seen before. It's quite scary."
The fire was smouldering on Friday morning
Wasif Naeem said "we are a peaceful community"
Mohamaed Afnan said "there are certain people who don't like certain religions but that is part of life"
'It just makes me sad'
Dr Naomi Green from the Muslim Council of Britain described the burning of the effigy as reminiscent of "groundhog day".
"This isn't an isolated incident, it's just yet another thing in a string of things that have happened,"she said, adding:
"It just makes me sad."
Dr Green expressed a belief that Northern Ireland is better than these incidents but noted the repetitive nature of such events.
"We continuously face this to the point where we're living in this hamster wheel, where it keeps happening, happening, happening over again, and it has to stop."
She highlighted that Muslim and other minority communities are not prioritized in Northern Ireland.
Dr Green called on the executive office and political parties to take concrete steps to address the issue.
"Why has there not been leadership on this from the top, from the people who are in power, instead of leaving it all to a policing decision,"she asked.
"It's time for action instead of statement,"she concluded, while expressing doubt about the political will to address the matter.
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