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Dundee’s Muslim Message Society handed out roses and a message of peace to city centre shoppers last weekend.

In the wake of the attacks on the French magazine Charlie Hebdo by Islamist terrorists the society took to the streets on Saturday to hand out hundreds of free roses to celebrate Mawlid, the Prophet’s birthday.

Each rose was accompanied by this quote from Mohammed: “Shall I inform you of something that holds a higher status than fasting, praying and giving charity? Making peace between people.”

The attacks on Charlie Hebdo magazine have left many Muslims in fear of reprisals, with one woman already claiming she had been racially abused in Dundee as a result.

Last week Michael Haines, whose brother David was executed by Islamic State, said any reprisals against ordinary Muslims play into the terrorists’ hands by dividing communities.

Saturday’s initiative went down well with people in Dundee.

Hundreds of people commented on the Muslim Message Society’s Facebook page,

Kathleen Feeney Arnold said: “How beautiful, if only people would stop and smell the roses and realise how precious life and love is.”

Lisamarie Cohen added: “This is the kind of beautiful proactive message we should all be sending out. Very beautiful.”