City mosque opens doors
AN open day at the Cairns Mosque tomorrow aims to demystify and educate Far Northerners in the wake of last week’s terrorist attack in Christchurch.
The imam or worship leader of the mosque, Waseem Jattie, invited all to take part in the open day at the Dunn St Cairns North place of worship.
“People want to pay their respects and come to the mosque. It is a real opportunity for them to all come on one day (and for) us to give thanks for the overwhelming support we received from Mareeba all the way to Cairns,” he said.
Since the shootings at two mosques in New Zealand last Friday, Mr Jattie had been heartened by an outpouring of support.
“There has been tremendous support, unbelievable support. The amount of emails and Facebook posts, I can’t cope with answering them,” he said.
“It makes you heart so warm, it is amazing.”
Mr Jattie said tomorrow at 10.30am the mosque would throw open its doors to nonMuslim people.
“We want to clear it up (Islamic prejudice) and discuss it and open it up for questions,” he said.
There will be a presentation by Islamic scholar, Mr Jattie, followed by a question-andanswer session and finally food will be served.
Barron River MP Craig Crawford encouraged nonMuslims to show their support.
“In light of the devastating terrorist attack in Christchurch, it is even more important that we reach out to each other and spread a message of peace, harmony and belonging,” Mr Crawford said on Facebook.
Already non-Muslim community members keen to offer support have made contact with the mosque to stand in solidarity against hate and to offer condolences after 50 people were killed last Friday.
Mr Jattie, from South Africa, has been living in Mareeba for five years.
He delivers a sermon each Friday morning at the Cairns and Mareeba mosques and holds services at weddings and funerals.