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A leading figure in the Muslim-Australian community has encouraged people to call out bigotry and racism following the recent spate of terror attacks in Christchurch. Sherene Hassan OAM, the Education Director of the Islamic Museum of Australia, told those attending the Bendigo Interfaith Council's annual dinner that "enough was enough". "Now is the time for the line to be drawn in the sand," she said. "For the hate speech to stop and for the dehumanisation of the other to cease." Ms Hassan has worked for years to transform perceptions of the Muslim community in Australia and promote a respectful interfaith dialogue. Read more: Hundreds gather in Castlemaine in a vigil for the Christchurch victims She was awarded with an Order of Australia Medal last year in honour of her service to the community through the promotion of cross-cultural understanding. Ms Hassan was also chosen as 'Muslim Woman of the Year' at the Australian Muslim Achievement Awards in 2016. Following the terrorist attack in Christchurch, in which at least 50 Muslims were killed, Ms Hassan said the reaction from members of the non-Muslim community has been promising. "I wanted to acknowledge the outpouring and support from all sectors of the wider community in the last few days," she said. "We've been swamped by flowers and letters and emails. "This has buoyed us all and nurtured our broken hearts and souls and made things a little more bearable." Ms Hassan was the first female vice president of the Islamic Council of Victoria and was a Muslim coordinator of the Building Bridges in Schools Program in 2013-14. She has conducted more than a thousand information sessions on Islam to a range of audiences. Ms Hassan said it was time to encourage a more respectful dialogue in politics, the media, and the community more broadly. "You are going to be ridiculed and most certainly opposed," she said. "Embarking on this path to harmony is not going to be easy. "But let's use every opportunity to speak out. This is the only path for decent people to traverse." Ms Hassan stressed to the group it was about respect, inclusion and an open dialogue within the community. "We must choose education over ignorance, hope over fear, love over hate," she said. Have you signed up to the Bendigo Advertiser's daily newsletter and breaking news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in central Victoria.
Sherene Hassan OAM speaks at the Bendigo Interfaith
A leading figure in the Muslim-Australian community has encouraged people to call out bigotry and racism following the recent spate of terror attacks in Christchurch.
Sherene Hassan OAM, the Education Director of the Islamic Museum of Australia, told those attending the Bendigo Interfaith Council's annual dinner that "enough was enough".
"Now is the time for the line to be drawn in the sand," she said. "For the hate speech to stop and for the dehumanisation of the other to cease."
Ms Hassan has worked for years to transform perceptions of the Muslim community in Australia and promote a respectful interfaith dialogue.
She was awarded with an Order of Australia Medal last year in honour of her service to the community through the promotion of cross-cultural understanding.
Ms Hassan was also chosen as 'Muslim Woman of the Year' at the Australian Muslim Achievement Awards in 2016.
Following the terrorist attack in Christchurch, in which at least 50 Muslims were killed, Ms Hassan said the reaction from members of the non-Muslim community has been promising.
"I wanted to acknowledge the outpouring and support from all sectors of the wider community in the last few days," she said.
"We've been swamped by flowers and letters and emails.
"This has buoyed us all and nurtured our broken hearts and souls and made things a little more bearable."
Ms Hassan was the first female vice president of the Islamic Council of Victoria and was a Muslim coordinator of the Building Bridges in Schools Program in 2013-14.
She has conducted more than a thousand information sessions on Islam to a range of audiences.
Ms Hassan said it was time to encourage a more respectful dialogue in politics, the media, and the community more broadly.
"You are going to be ridiculed and most certainly opposed," she said. "Embarking on this path to harmony is not going to be easy.
"But let's use every opportunity to speak out. This is the only path for decent people to traverse."
Ms Hassan stressed to the group it was about respect, inclusion and an open dialogue within the community.
"We must choose education over ignorance, hope over fear, love over hate," she said.
Have you signed up to the Bendigo Advertiser's daily newsletter and breaking news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in central Victoria.
