Organisation 'shocked' after féile cancels event

An organisation has said it is "shocked" that Féile an Phobail has cancelled an event it was due to hold during the festival.

Women's Rights Network Northern Ireland (WRN NI), which describes itself as "putting the sex based needs of women and girls first" said that "féile has chosen to silence the voices of the very group that makes up half the population".

The event, Respect, Rights and Reality, was due to be held in August. Féile an Phobail said it had informed WRN NI that it was withdrawing their event.

"Féile an Phobail was unaware from the initial submission that this event would promote campaigns against rights for the transgender community," it said on social media.

Féile an Phobail, also known as the West Belfast Festival, is Ireland's biggest community arts festival and has been running for nearly 40 years.

It is due to run from 25 July until 9 August.

The event run by WRN NI was due to take place on 4 August and had a range of speakers, including Fiona McAnena from the Sex Matters organisation.

Sex Matters was founded by Maya Forstater, who lost her job after saying that people cannot change their biological sex.

She was later awarded compensation by an employment tribunal which ruled that Forstater experienced "direct discrimination" related to her beliefs.

Forstater said Féile an Phobail were "discriminating" against WRN NI and Sex Matters.

"It is as unacceptable as cancelling someone for their religious or non-religious beliefs," she said.

"We would urge the festival organisers to think again, to re-instate the booking and to apologise."

In their statement, Féile an Phobail said it "takes pride in standing up for those who are marginalised and attacked".

They said they "fully support the right of the transgender community to be treated with equality and respect".

"On that basis, Féile an Phobail has informed the organiser of this event that we are withdrawing their event."

In a statement to BBC News NI, Women's Rights Network Northern Ireland said it had made clear to féile that the event was to be a "discussion on women's sex-based rights".

They said that féile's decision had followed "an organised online campaign against the event".

"That campaign included misogynistic, abusive and, in our view, threatening rhetoric directed at women associated with it," they said.

"Féile describes itself as a festival of the people, of ideas, culture and debate.

"We therefore have to ask whether its commitment to free speech extends only to viewpoints with which it agrees and only to some people."