Muslims in Australia celebrate Eid holiday

MELBOURNE, Australia

 Thousands of members of Australia’s Muslim minority flocked to mosques and community centers early Friday for the Eid al-Fitr prayer and the accompanying "khutbah" -- or Islamic sermon.

Worshippers from different backgrounds gathered for communal prayers that began between 7.30-8.00 a.m. (2200-2300GMT) in Melbourne.

At the Sunshine Mosque, the imam (Muslim religious leader) Mustafa Asmaci told the diverse congregation, "We Muslims living away from our homelands have a responsibility to represent Islam in the best manner."

His sermon focused on the positive behavior required of believers during the holidays, stressing that resentment and bitterness must be set aside. He called on Muslims to also visit their parents as well as the sick and elderly, while striving to instill joy in the children.

Asmaci expressed to Anadolu Agency his contentment that people had filed into the mosque for the prayer.

"It makes us extremely happy to see our brothers and sisters exchange Eid greetings in communal unity and togetherness, and to continue their solidarity and crowd the community’s mosque," he said.