UNITED IN FAITH
A SHOW of public support for the Muslim community in the wake of the Christchurch terror attack has inspired smiles and a spirit of understanding.
More than 500 people, including Cairns Mayor Bob Manning, turned out at an open day organised by the Cairns Mosque yesterday.
Mosque imam, Waseem Jattie said the show of support was well received.
“The turnout has just been overwhelming,” he said.
“It’s hard to express it in words but our hearts are just warmed and flowing with gratitude.”
Mr Jattie said all types of people from all walks of life came to take part in prayer for the 50 victims of the Christchurch mosque shooting and to participate in a question-and-answer session.
“There are people here from the Christian community, the Maori community and the Sikh community,” he said.
During the question-andanswer session a query relating to sharia law was raised.
“People were asking about sharia law because they had heard certain things in the media saying ‘sharia law does this and that’ and I explained to them what sharia law really means,” Mr Jattie said.
“I don’t believe there is a single country that has the pure sharia law … they have some Islamic laws in those countries but not the entire thing.”
Edge Hill resident Greg Hill identifies as a Buddhist and attended yesterday’s open day to show his support for the Islamic community and find out a bit more about the faith.
“It was very generous to allow the broader public to come into that (prayer sessions) and I found myself sitting between two white Cairns Christian ladies.
“If I have learnt something it is (people are interested) in demystifying the Muslim faith,” he said.