“Hurtful and extremely damaging” – that’s the response from a Pride body after a town's mayor apologised on social media for taking part in a flag-raising ceremony.

Kristine Garina, president of the European Pride Organisers Association, has contacted Councillor Mohammed Nazam following his public comments after the event in Keighley on Friday.

Ms Garina writes of visiting Keighley in 2021, meeting the then mayor and being impressed with the Keighley Pride team and its efforts to make sure that everyone was included.

She adds: “You will understand, then, how disappointed I was to read about how quickly you withdrew your support after raising the Pride flag in the town last Friday."

Ms Garina describes Cllr Nazam's comments as "hurtful and extremely damaging to the reputation of Keighley both locally and more widely" and adds: “It will also be disappointing to the many thousands of LGBTI+ Muslims who take part in Pride events across the UK and the rest of the world.”

She added that with Bradford heading towards its time as UK City of Culture in 2025, she hoped he would apologise, and engage with the local LGBTI+ community and learn about the support they need from their elected officials.

“It is your duty and your responsibility,” she added.

Cllr Nazam took part in the flag-raising ceremony in his role as Mayor of Keighley.

But he subsequently posted on a Facebook page called Keighley Pakistanis that he "wholeheartedly" apologised for participating in the event and described his decision as a "lapse in judgment".

His comments have sparked a furious reaction, and there have been calls for him to stand down as mayor.

Cllr Nazam, who also represents Keighley Central ward on Bradford Council, said in his post: "I wholeheartedly apologise for my participation in the flag-raising ceremony, as it contradicts my personal religious beliefs, as many of you are aware.

"I want to emphasise that I have also personally repented for this error and reflected deeply on the consequences of my actions. Looking back, I realise that I should have respectfully declined the request at the time.

"While I’m unwavering in my commitment to uphold my deep-rooted religious beliefs as a faithful Muslim, I want to emphasise that I actively support and promote tolerance for individuals of all faiths, creeds and colours, as my faith and the law of the land requires me to do.”