By Steve Evans, Finbar O'Mallon and Daniel Burdon
Hundreds of people gathered across Canberra on Tuesday night for two separate events marking Friday's mass-shooting in Christchurch, New Zealand.
The common thread from speakers at an anti-racism protest in Garema Place was Australian media and politicians had helped feed the anti-Muslim sentiment that lead to the shooting at the Christchurch mosque.
Sun shines through over the crowd as Imam Mohammad Atae Rabbi Hadi prays with 50 prayer mats for the 50 victims of the Christchurch terrorist attack.Credit: Elesa Kurtz
The mass shooting has claimed the lives of 50 people since Friday.
Local rabbi Shmueli Feldman said a fortnight ago, just three streets away from where he stood on Tuesday, a Jewish Canberran had been abused in the streets.
Mr Feldman told the hundreds gathered that police had refused to write up a report because they said no crime had been committed.
"The so called harmless words of racism turns so quickly into rivers of blood," Mr Feldman said.
After a recent talk at a Canberra mosque, Mr Feldman said a Muslim woman told him she had only recently been called a "Muslim scum" on the streets.
But he quoted the Talmud - the ancient guide to Jewish life - and said only a little bit of light will dispel a great darkness.
"Knowing what the sickness is, is half the cure," Mr Feldman said, again quoting the Talmud.
Local advocate Diana Abdel Rahman, a Muslim woman, said she jumped between anger and grief since Friday but said people can turn their words into action.
"You can no longer stand on the bylines. You must be active. If you see hate, call it out," Ms Rahman said.
Teacher Imad Alsmadi said he had come to send a message he was proud to be Muslim and Australian.
"[I'm here] just to send a message to Australian people, to all people ... we are against Islamophobia," Mr Alsmadi said.
Paralegal Sinead Allen said Australians felt a kinship with New Zealand and she had come on Tuesday to show solidarity.
"What happened in Christchurch is so reflective of the sentiment that's kind of being pushed in Australia in the lead up to election," Ms Allen said.
"Everyone feels it could have been anywhere. It could have been a Canberra mosque."
Roses left on a collection of prayer mats at Tuesday night's vigil for the victims of the mass shooting in Christchurch on Friday.Credit: Elesa Kurtz
Later, Hundreds gathered in a circle on the banks of Lake Burley Griffin at dusk on Tuesday to mourn the victims of the the Christchurch attack.
Fifty Muslim prayer mats, each with a candle, were laid out on the lawn to represent the number of dead.
As the sun set, the "peace bell" echoed 50 times across the shimmering water.
The evening matched the somberness of the occasion. There was a sublime autumn calm and a clear full moon as prayers were said in Maori and English and by Muslims and Christians. There were personal remembrances of the dead.
His voice breaking in grief, Shamim Homayun told of his friend Hajid Daoud in Christchurch.
"I called him three times but the phone just rang to voice mail," said Mr Homayun.
Eventually, it emerged that the friend was a victim of the terrorist. "To soothe my pain, I tell myself that he would have wanted to die inside a mosque protecting someone else. But that soothing is only temporary."
The High Commissioner of New Zealand in Australia, Dame Annette King, said, "Thank you to all of you who are here tonight. You have come out to share the grief of a nation.
Yasmin and Ali Bulbul ring the Nara peace bell 50 times on Tuesday night for the 50 victims of the Christchurch terrorist attack. Credit: Elesa Kurtz
"We are here tonight for solidarity and support for each other and also for our Muslim community.
"The 15th of March will be seared in our memories for ever."
Imam Mohammad Atae Rabbi Hadi of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Association of Australia intoned an Arabic prayer.
Finally, the Lord's prayer was recited in Maori and in English.
Tuesday night's events followed a day of condolence motions in the Legislative Assembly lead by Chief Minister Andrew Barr.
"We stand with our Muslim community members, we stand with all New Zealanders, no two countries in the world are closer than Australia and New Zealand; they are us," he said.
Mr Barr also thanked all community groups in the city for their role in organising vigils and events for people of all faiths, and no faith, saying such events demonstrated the strength of the Canberra community.