PRAGUE – In a show of solidarity, member of the Czech Muslim community attended a Catholic mass in a Prague church on Wednesday, August 10, carrying banners saying “terrorism is not a religion”.

“The number of terrorist attacks in Europe has been growing and we know that Czechs fear Muslims as a result,” Romana Červenková from the Alfirdaus Centre, who organized the gathering, told Radio Prague.

“We have condemned every single terrorist attack that took place, but written statements never seem to make much of an impact. And the brutality of the latest attack against French priest Jacques Hamel was such that we realized it was time to show ourselves and raise our voice against what is happening.

“To say we respect other religions and we consider a church a sacred place where people should be able to pray without being threatened.”

Muslims gathered at the Church of the Most Sacred Heart of Our Lord on Prague’s Jiří z Poděbrad square to denounce the murder of innocent people worldwide.

The move was urged to make their voices heard and to correct misconceptions associated to their religion.

At the evening service, the church was packed as Catholic priest Petr Benes welcomed Muslim guests, addressing them as “our Muslim friends”.

Father Benes welcome came after several reportedly refused to allow Muslims to attend mass on the grounds that the parish would not like it.

Romana Červenková says she understands people’s fears.

“When you switch on the television these days all you hear are reports of terrorist attacks by Islamic radicals,” he said.

“And when you are exposed to such news, in such a measure, for so long, then you will inevitably be wary of all Muslims – because all you hear about them is that they kill people.”

Following the mass 200 people, both Christians and Muslims, joined hands to form a human chain around the church in defiance of protesters who stood nearby with banners reading “We are at home here”.

Červenková praised Wednesday’s event as a step in the right direction, announcing plans for other events in the fall which will throw a new and different light on the life and values of Muslims in the Czech Republic.