In the wake of terror attacks in Manchester and London, the Thornaby Muslim Association and Mosque was targeted by vandals who scrawled ‘Muslim cowards’ on its walls last week.
The mosque’s response was to organize an open day and to invite the community to speak to representatives from the Muslim community.
Hundreds of people poured into the mosque on Saturday to hear more about the Islamic faith and to put their questions to the Muslims present.
Eleanor Roberts, 30, said: "I’ve never been to a mosque before and I wanted to see what it was all about and learn more about Muslim views.
"I also wanted to show support and solidarity from the non-Muslim community and to show that what was written on the walls outside did not represent what everybody thinks.”
Another man added: "I am here because my son has to learn not to be afraid of Muslims and to be aware we are all part of the same community."
Speakers fielded a number of questions from those gathered, with people raising a variety of issues, from Muslim dress to integration and responses to terror.
Source: The Northern Echo