An event organised by the Women’s Rights Network Northern Ireland has been withdrawn from this year’s Féile an Phobail programme after festival organisers determined it would promote campaigns against transgender rights.

The event, titled “Respect, Rights and Reality,” was due to be held in West Belfast but was cancelled on Tuesday. Féile an Phobail issued a statement saying it had not realised from the initial application that the event would feature opposition to the rights of the transgender community. The festival highlighted its history of supporting marginalised groups and its recent work giving a platform to transgender voices.

The Women’s Rights Network Northern Ireland responded by expressing shock and disappointment. It said the event was intended as a discussion on women’s sex-based rights and that this was made clear in its application. The group claimed an online campaign including what it described as misogynistic, abusive and threatening language preceded the cancellation. It questioned whether the festival’s commitment to free speech extended only to agreed viewpoints and said women made up half the population, not a fringe interest group. The network rejected suggestions that it was campaigning against the rights of others and said it was determined to hold the discussion elsewhere.

Author JK Rowling has offered to fund any legal challenge to the festival’s decision.