The anti-Islamophobia campaign has been carried out in Indonesia, a nation home to more than 13 per cent of the world's Muslim population.
Hundreds of Muslim youths held a peaceful demonstration at the National Monument (Monas) in Central Jakarta, on Friday. They were campaigning against Islamophobia, hoping to challenge the hate and preconceptions around Muslim communities held in various parts of the world.
"The main issue of Islamophobia raised by one of the New Zealand media is that the terrorist's reason for the attack was because of the Muslims," said the protest's coordinator, Ricky Hafidz, as quoted by Indonesiainside.id. "But we prove that there is no problem with the Muslim population."
Indonesian Muslims hold a rally in Jakarta on March 22, 2019, to condemn the attacks on two mosques in New Zealand. Source: BAY ISMOYO/AFP/Getty Images
In Australia, Queensland senator Fraser Anning said Muslim immigration contributed to the 50 deaths in the Christchurch massacre, and was widely interpreted to have blamed the victims of the attck for their own deaths.
Following this, the 17-year-old Will Connolly – who has come to be known as 'Egg Boy' – slapped an egg on Senator Anning's head and was subsequently struck in the face by the senator and taken to the ground by multiple men. Connolly has been interviewed and released by police without charge, pending further investigations.
In the demonstration at Monas Jakarta, a participant is seen holding a thank you note to 'Egg Boy'.
Hafidz also conveys his appreciation to New Zealand citizens for what he describes as their sympathetic response to the mosque shootings.
"We also appreciate the New Zealand community for their sympathy and friendliness in responding to the tragedy of the shooting last Friday," Hafidz said.
The attacks took place in two mosques in Christchurch may also have affected New Zealand's Muslims in a more long-term fashion.
Agam Jaya Syam, Trustees Chairman of the Al-Ameen Mosque in Wellington, claims that he may see New Zealand differently from now on.
"Personally I may see New Zealand not as it used to be," Mr Syam tells SBS Indonesian.
"That it turns out that Muslims can be soft targets wherever they are. We often see this happening in other countries, it turns out that it is now happening in New Zealand."
Mr Syam added that Muslims also need to introspective following the tragedy.
"After this incident, maybe we should also be introspective, we must show more of our brotherhood to our neighbours," he said.
Meanwhile the Indonesian Ambassador to New Zealand, Samoa and the Kingdom of Tonga, Tantowi Yahya, says there is nothing to fear following the Christchurch attack, which killed one Indonesian citizen Lilik Abdul Hamid.
"We really believe in the security standards that will be taken by the New Zealand police and government, as stated by Prime Minister Ardern that they do not want to miss [such an attack] twice," said Mr Yahya.
"Therefore, the police will definitely take the right steps but they will not worry the people and we fully believe them."
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern on Monday ordered an independent judicial inquiry into the Christchurch attack.
