Leaders of Dundee’s Muslim community welcomed local civic heads into the city’s main mosque to “bridge a cultural gap”.
Dundee’s Lord Provost Bob Duncan, city council leader Ken Guild, chief executive David Martin, along with Dundee politician Shona Robison, visited the Dundee Central Mosque on Tuesday.
Vice-president of Dundee Islamic Society Bashir Chohan said the city’s Muslim community is keen to open their religion and culture to the wider community.
The visit was organised in the wake of last week’s terrorist attacks in Brussels, with Mr Chohan adding: “We have concerns that racial hatred could grow in the wake of recent terrorist attacks in Europe.
“While we have a good relationship with other religions and cultures in Dundee, there are concerns among our community that they could bear the brunt of racist attacks in the wake of events in Paris and Brussels.
“We want to bridge the cultural gap by being as open as possible and inviting people along to our mosques to see for themselves what our religion is all about.”
Mr Chohan admitted that concern was growing among Asians in Dundee that people view them differently because of recent attacks.
He added: “We have lived happily in Dundee for many years and we want that to continue but there is a growing feeling among others that all Muslims are terrorists. That’s simply not the case and we want to do everything we can to dispel that perception.”
Lord Provost Duncan said: “This visit sends a very positive message.”