Irving demonstrations: Armed far-right protesters filmed 'shadowing' Muslims

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Heavily armed far right-wing protesters have been filmed apparently “shadowing” American Muslim worshippers as they walked to prayers.

The Bureau of American Islamic Relations (BAIR), a small right-wing group in Texas, have drawn international attention in the past week after they picketed a mosque in the small town of Irving.

A Facebook profile in the name of BAIR leader and founder David Wright appeared to post the names of every “Muslim and Muslim sympathizier [sic]” in the town, following the protest over the alleged use of Sharia law to settle personal disputes in the town’s mosque.

Anthony Bond, a local activist whose name and address was published, condemned the action.

“That is the goal of this post: to put a bulls-eye on the back of all the people that stood up against the so-called anti-Shariah law bill,” he told The Dallas Morning News.

The apparent publication of the list – later removed from Facebook – provoked huge interest and publicity for a counter protest supporting the mosque and its supporters. More than 200 people are currently due to attend a Saturday rally, with more than 4,000 invited.

Coverage of the original protest was featured on Fox News and appears to show a BAIR supporter, wearing camouflage gear with a balaclava covering part of his face and carrying what appears to be an semi-automatic rifle, following three people, one of whom is wearing a headscarf.

The original dispute was sparked after the town’s mayor Beth Van Duyne accused the local Muslim community of bypassing state and federal laws to rule on disputes using Sharia law, a charge denied by the Islamic Centre of Irving.

David Wright did not respond to The Independent’s request for comment.