Shi'ite Muslims gash their heads with blades as they commemorate Ashoura in Najaf
Shi'ite Muslims gash their heads with blades as they commemorate Ashoura in Najaf, November 3, 2014. Ashoura, which falls on the 10th day of the Islamic month of Muharram, commemorates the death of Imam Hussein, grandson of Prophet Mohammad, who was killed in the seventh century battle of Kerbala. REUTERS/ Alaa Al-Marjani

Around 3,000 Shia Muslims in Sydney commemorated the death of Imam Hussein, their prophet's grandson. They made a procession to promote peace.

It was the end of the Islamic month of Muharram when hundreds of children, men and women gathered to pray and chant for the commemoration. They carried banners, flags and placards to promote peace on the occasion. While they grieved the sacrifice of Hussein who "died in a battle to save Islam," they also asked for an end to tyranny and injustice. Hussein was among the 70 members of the family which were killed by the Caliph Yazid armies in Karbala in 680AD. ABC News quoted a woman saying that it was a day to show that Muslims were not violent. The unnamed woman said that Muslim would not spread violence or terror. "Islam is a religion of peace," she said.

Another woman Hawiaa Abdullah said that she had joined the annual procession to raise awareness about her religion. She said that the media showed Islam in a "very violent way." However, she said that they were there to walk peacefully. The procession had a banner leading it that gave a strong message against terrorism. "Terrorists have risen again, who will be victorious over them?" it said. A 17-year-old boy Shamlan al-Shishan made strong statements against Islamic State. He said that IS people were not Muslims. "They're terrorists, they use 'God is great' and then they kill people," he said, "We are the real Muslims." They should be "kicked out" of Australia, he added.

Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott earlier confirmed that Islamic State might be behind the shooting at the Husainiyah Nabi Akram centre in Greenacre in Sydney. He also said that the Muslim community in the country was apprehensive that it was the Middle Eastern militant group was behind the Monday attack. Rasoul Al Mousawi, 47, was shot in his face and shoulder. The prayer leader was rushed to hospital for emergency surgery. According to worshippers, the attacker chanted slogans praising Islamic State. One of the witnesses told ABC Radio said that the threats included chants like "ISIS lives forever."

Contact the writer: s.mukhopadhyay@ibtimes.com.au