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| Anti-racism rally held in Belfast | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Thousands of people have taken part in an anti-racism march in Belfast. | Thousands of people have taken part in an anti-racism march in Belfast. |
| Organisers said it was designed to "reassure ethnic and religious minorities in Northern Ireland". | Organisers said it was designed to "reassure ethnic and religious minorities in Northern Ireland". |
| Representatives from the Muslim community and trade unions were among those who spoke at a rally before the marchers set off to walk from Writers' Square to Belfast City Hall. | |
| It comes after a Belfast pastor apologised for calling Islam "heathen" and "satanic". | It comes after a Belfast pastor apologised for calling Islam "heathen" and "satanic". |
| Pastor James McConnell made a public apology for the remarks on Friday. | Pastor James McConnell made a public apology for the remarks on Friday. |
| Saturday's march was led by Belfast's Lord Mayor, Nichola Mallon, Dr Donald Watts, president of the Irish Council of Churches and Dr Mazhar M Khan, a member of Northern Ireland's Muslim community. | Saturday's march was led by Belfast's Lord Mayor, Nichola Mallon, Dr Donald Watts, president of the Irish Council of Churches and Dr Mazhar M Khan, a member of Northern Ireland's Muslim community. |
| Amnesty International, the Northern Ireland Committee of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (NIC-ICTU) and the Northern Ireland Council for Ethnic Minorities (NICEM) organised the event. | Amnesty International, the Northern Ireland Committee of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (NIC-ICTU) and the Northern Ireland Council for Ethnic Minorities (NICEM) organised the event. |
| A spokesperson for the organisers said: "In the face of a worrying rise in racist attacks, and in the absence of the promised Racial Equality Strategy and the lack of coherent political leadership from the Northern Ireland Executive, this march gives ordinary people from across the community a chance to take a stand against racism. | A spokesperson for the organisers said: "In the face of a worrying rise in racist attacks, and in the absence of the promised Racial Equality Strategy and the lack of coherent political leadership from the Northern Ireland Executive, this march gives ordinary people from across the community a chance to take a stand against racism. |
| "This march is a coming together of civic society to show solidarity with all ethnic and religious minorities in Northern Ireland." | "This march is a coming together of civic society to show solidarity with all ethnic and religious minorities in Northern Ireland." |
| Earlier this week, Pastor McConnell apologised for his comments about Islam. On Friday, he was questioned for almost two hours about his remarks by police. | Earlier this week, Pastor McConnell apologised for his comments about Islam. On Friday, he was questioned for almost two hours about his remarks by police. |
| Northern Ireland First Minister Peter Robinson was heavily criticised when he backed Mr McConnell, although he said his remarks had been misinterpreted. | Northern Ireland First Minister Peter Robinson was heavily criticised when he backed Mr McConnell, although he said his remarks had been misinterpreted. |
| On Tuesday, Mr Robinson visited the Belfast Islamic Centre and made a public apology for his comments. | On Tuesday, Mr Robinson visited the Belfast Islamic Centre and made a public apology for his comments. |
| Last Saturday, around 4,000 people attended anti-racism rallies in Belfast and Londonderry. | Last Saturday, around 4,000 people attended anti-racism rallies in Belfast and Londonderry. |