A women's organisation has started legal proceedings after Féile an Phobail cancelled an event it was due to hold in early August during the festival. Women's Rights Network Northern Ireland (WRN NI) said the decision had left it with "no choice" but to take legal action after meeting festival representatives on Friday.
WRN NI, which describes itself as "putting the sex based needs of women and girls first", said Féile had "chosen to silence the voices of the very group that makes up half the population". Féile an Phobail said it would continue to promote events "which provide balance and inclusivity".
Papers submitted by WRN NI to the High Court in Belfast state the cancellation was "wrongful, null and void". The event, titled Respect, Rights and Reality, was due to be held on 4 August. Féile an Phobail said it had informed WRN NI that it was withdrawing the event, with WRN NI subsequently saying it was "shocked".
What was the planned event?
The event was titled Respect, Rights and Reality and was due to take place on 4 August. A range of speakers were due to take part, 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.
What happened after the cancellation?
After the event was cancelled, WRN NI said Féile had "chosen to silence the voices of the very group that makes up half the population". On Friday, WRN NI met Féile an Phobail representatives but said a "satisfactory resolution" had not been found and that it had "no choice" but to take legal action.
In papers submitted to the High Court in Belfast, WRN NI said the cancellation was "wrongful, null and void". Féile an Phobail said it had withdrawn the event and WRN NI said it was "shocked".
How has Féile an Phobail responded?
Féile an Phobail said it would continue to promote events "which provide balance and inclusivity". In a statement on social media after Friday's meeting, Féile an Phobail said there had been no resolution.
"Féile an Phobail was extremely disappointed that legal representatives for the Women's Rights Network filed legal papers with the court before our meeting with the Women's Rights Network had concluded,"the statement said. It said it stood by its decision to cancel the event.
What has WRN NI said about the dispute?
WRN NI previously told NI it had made clear to féile that the event was to be a "discussion on women's sex-based rights". It said 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,"WRN NI 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."
What is Féile an Phobail?
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 dispute comes as the festival prepares for its 25 July to 9 August run, with both sides maintaining their positions after Friday's meeting failed to produce agreement.
