Mosques around Australia open their doors to locals to know more about Islam

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Sunday 01 Nov 2015 - 10:54 Makkah mean time-19-1-1437 Sydney, (IINA) - Mosques around Australia have thrown open their doors to the public in the hope of reducing misunderstanding about Islam, according to media reports. Australian mosques have opened their doors to the public as Islamic leaders in the country hope to reduce misunderstanding about their religion. Fourteen mosques around Australia have invited locals in so that they may learn more about Islam. According to Lebanese Muslim Association (LMA) President Samier Dandan, extremist organizations like the ISIS have maligned Islam’s reputation, and any “ignorance” among the public about the religion should be addressed. “There's never been a time more so than now that ... any particular Islamic organization needs to open up its doors to embrace all the different concerns and issues that currently do exist,” Australian Associated Press (AAP) quoted Dandan as saying outside Lakemba mosque on Saturday. “The only way to try and break down those misconceptions or that level of ignorance is through a dialogue.” From his side, LMA spokesman Zachary Rea believes non-Muslim Australians should also visit their local mosques and engage with religious leaders of Islam to support the process of “demystifying the mosque.” Treasurer Scott Morrison who, along with Labor leader Bill Shorten, visited the mosque in Sydney's west on Saturday, commended Islamic leaders who were taking part in the event. Morrison admitted the recent terrorist attack on NSW police employee Curtis Chang by a radicalized teenager may have encouraged anti-Muslim sentiment. “I think today is a good opportunity for people to see firsthand why that is true for themselves.” Catholic woman Helen Domench was one of dozens of non-Muslims who took a rare look inside the Lakemba mosque. “I came here because I hear so much about Muslim people and the negative things ... but I have met the most wonderful people,” Domench told AAP. SM/IINA