An anti-war group has said it will defy a decision by Dublin City Council not to allow it to put up posters opposing the visit of US president George Bush to Belfast next week.
The Irish Anti-War Movement (IAWM) said the poster advertised a protest it plans to hold in Belfast next Monday to oppose the president’s visit.
It said the council refused permission by email with the response that the council felt the poster “may be perceived as offensive by members of the public”.
The IAWM said the decision was a “completely unacceptable act of political censorship” and that it intends to defy the council ban and “erect the poster anyway”.
A statement said the organisation would also refuse to pay any fines imposed for erecting the poster without planning permission.
Chairman of the IAWM Richard Boyd Barrett said it was “simply incredible” and claimed it was an attempt by Dublin City Council to deny free speech and to interfere with the right to freedom of assembly.
“It is becoming increasingly clear that at very high levels in officialdom and government there is an agenda to suppress any political activity or protest that questions US foreign policy,” he said.
A spokesman for Dublin City Council said he was not aware of the details of the refusal but that the council would not allow posters that “support extremes” or that had “strong visual content” that might be deemed offensive.