More than three-dozen mosques across Victoria — including the Albanian Islamic Centre of Shepparton — will throw their doors open to the public this weekend.
Islamic Council of Victoria’s Mosque Open Day 2024 is happening this Sunday, February 25, with 37 mosques set to welcome visitors for an event which has been running since 2017.
Described as ‘an essential part of Victoria’s multifaith and multicultural calendar’, the open day is set up as a ‘celebration of dialogue, respect, and understanding between and among all the communities that comprise this state’s rich mosaic’.
“This year’s Mosque Open Day is taking place during an incredibly traumatic time for Victoria’s Muslim community. The catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza is heartbreaking and we are all impacted, even those that are not Palestinian nor have relatives in Gaza,” ICV president Adel Salman said.
“We invite all Victorians, of faith or no faith, to visit one of the participating mosques to show their solidarity and witness for themselves the essential role that mosques play during good times and bad.”
Participating mosques will be open to the public from 9.30am to 4pm on Sunday.
Visitors can expect to get to know their Muslim neighbours, but also to learn about the Islamic faith and the diverse Muslim cultural norms. A range of activities are on offer, including guided mosque tours, hijab tutorials, henna tattoo art, and discussions about Islamic beliefs. Tasty food is also on the menu.
The Albanian Islamic Centre of Shepparton is located on Acacia St, Shepparton.