Hawzah News Agency-Normally a place of quiet prayer and solitude, the Cairns Mosque, in Queen's,Australia will teem with people as local Muslims seek to debunk common myths about Islam.

Along with the Mareeba Mosque, it will join others around the country in welcoming non-Muslims on National Mosque Open Day.

The Cairns event will run from 10am-2pm and feature mosque tours, henna and hijab stalls, and an informal Q&A session.

“We have a few objectives in mind, the first of them is to demystify mosques, Muslims and Islam,” said open day co-organiser Dr Sami Moid.

“Sometimes we get a bit of an idea from the news we hear, but sometimes it’s actually a good idea to come into the local mosque and meet some local Muslims.

“Then we start to get a different appreciation of who they are – they are people just like us, many of them are doctors, plumbers and taxi drivers.”

National Mosque Open Day comes after a local Muslim woman was attacked by three men because of her faith in her Shields St store on October 19.

Dr Moid hopes the event will promote greater understanding.

Earlier this year, Cairns Muslims invited controversial Queensland Senator Pauline Hanson to visit the mosque and discuss her views on Islam.