MOYGASHEL — A loyalist bonfire in the County Tyrone village of Moygashel features an effigy of a mosque atop a tower of pallets. The bonfire is scheduled to be burned on Friday night. Placards beneath the display read "secure our borders" and "end the threat of radical Islam."

Police arrested a 56-year-old man on suspicion of displaying threatening, abusive or insulting material intended to stir up hatred. The man remains in custody. The Moygashel Bonfire Association stated the display was a political protest against uncontrolled illegal mass immigration and a failure to deport foreign criminals.

Patrick Corrigan, Northern Ireland director for Amnesty International UK, criticized the display. "This vile display is a blatant attempt to stir up anti-Muslim hatred and intimidate local families," Corrigan said. He added, "The police must investigate this as a potential crime, identify and hold to account those responsible, and ensure this material is swiftly removed before it can be used to incite further hatred and violence."

The Moygashel Bonfire Association also stated the display is an exercise in rights under article 10 of the ECHR. "Our display may well shock, offend or outrage others, but nonetheless it is an exercise in our rights under article 10 of the ECHR," the association said. The association stated its opposition is to ideology and government policy rather than people, and that the display did not target any individual.

Colm Gildernew, a Sinn Féin Stormont assembly member, said, "There is no place in our society for racism, and it is the responsibility of all political representatives and community leaders to stand against it." Eddie Roofe, an Alliance party councillor, stated that "People should be free to live without fear of themselves or their families being targeted or subjected to discrimination."