In the wake of the anti-Muslim terrorist attack in Christchurch, members of Sydney's Muslim community have come together, standing in solidarity with those in New Zealand and delivering messages of strength and hope.
"Our essence is [we are] human beings," Lida Mangal said at the Auburn Gallipoli Mosque, in Auburn NSW.
"We stand together... and we can fight together and we can stop it."
"When I watched the video, I thought it was a video game," she said. "I couldn't really believe it's reality."
Mobinah Ahmad, another member of the community, said she was "bracing" herself for what the Muslim community would go through as a result of the attack.
"I just burst into tears...I was so upset about the people that had lost their lives," she said.
"We need people to stand up and have the courage to say 'no' to any kind of negative rhetoric about Islam that is unfair."
Dr Abdurrahman Asaroglu said that, when it comes to terrorists, there's no use using religious or cultural labels.
"Terrorist is terrorist, whenever," he said.
"It doesn't have any religion. It doesn't have any ethnic background. They're all the same.
Nursen Ozger, a psychologist, said it was important to keep strong.
"No matter the number of calamities or trials or tribulations that we may experience, I will not fall into despair and I will not give up," she said.
And she had nothing but praise for New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern.
"One thing that has truly inspired me is the beautiful leadership of the New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern. Here we have a Prime Minister that is connecting with the people on a very sincere, genuine level," she said.
"It's truly inspirational to see that."
