AN 'anti-terrorism' rally involving members of a controversial far-right group will take place close to a planned republican anti-internment parade through Belfast city centre next week.
Leading figures from Britain First are among those expected to take part in the city hall event jointly organised by independent unionist councillor Jolene Bunting.
Those set to travel to the city for the ‘Northern Ireland Against Terrorism' rally include Britain First leader and former BNP councillor Paul Golding.
One of the group’s founders was Jim Dowson, a Scottish loyalist who lives in north and at one time was close to Golding.
Dowson and Golding were also linked to the Protestant Coalition, which emerged from the loyalist flag protests.
Britain First is known for its extreme anti-Muslim views and Golding was jailed for eight weeks last year after breaching a High Court ban on him entering any mosques in England and Wales.
It has been reported that he was also detained by Kent Police earlier this week but later released.
The organisers of the anti-internment parade - the Anti-Interment League - plan to march from north Belfast through the city centre on Sunday August 6 before making their way to a rally at Dunville Park in the west of the city.
Organisers say up to 5,000 people are expected to take part.
A loyalist parade organised by the Loyal People’s Protest is also planned for the city centre at the same time.
The group has in the past held protests during republican parades through the city, including the now annual anti-internment march.
Both parades have been listed by the Parades Commission as sensitive.
Anti-Internment League spokesman Dee Fennell met with the Parades Commission yesterday and said he believes “it is no coincidence” that the rally and loyalist parade have been planned at the same time as the republican march.
He expressed concern at the possibility of a "perverse situation where republicans marching on a human rights issue will be banned" while far-right leaders are "seemingly able to travel to Belfast from Britain and have a free rein".
He added that parade organisers have voluntarily agreed to start earlier and have reduced the number of bands taking part to five.
When asked if the anti-terrorism rally and the loyalist parade are linked, Ms Bunting hung up last night.
But speaking earlier on Radio Ulster's Talkback programme, the former TUV representative confirmed she has helped organise the rally and said next Sunday had been the date that had suited speakers.
During the interview she suggested that the Koran – the holy book of Islam – encourages people to commit rape but was criticised after being unable to cite references.
Ms Bunting also admitted she has never met a Muslim or read the Koran.
“I believe that these terrorists who have killed innocent people around the UK, those people who have raped young girls, they are following the word of the Koran,” she said.
The councillor, who has apologised in the past for making sectarian remarks online, later said she would accept an offer from the Belfast Islamic Centre to meet Muslims.
