That is why a group of Muslims took to Dunedin streets yesterday encouraging people to ask them anything over a cup of coffee.
Today marks two years since the terror attack on two Christchurch mosques, where 51 Muslims were murdered during Friday prayers.
The "Meet a Muslim" campaign, run by True Islam NZ, involves two Imams leading a group of youth across the country in 21 days to "remove misunderstandings and build bridges".
The group will take to the streets in each city wearing T-shirts saying "I’m a Muslim ask me anything" and "Meet a Muslim".
A coffee and cake session will be set up at a nearby cafe for people to have a chat and ask questions about Islam.
After beginning the campaign in Queenstown on Saturday, the group travelled to Invercargill and then on to Dunedin yesterday.
Dunedin’s session was held in Nova Cafe in the Octagon, where about five people joined Imams Sabah Al-Zafar and Mustenser Qamar in the afternoon.
Mr Al-Zafar said the cornerstone of Muslim faith was compassion and mercy.
"Over 50 Muslims were killed mercilessly and the reaction of Muslims ... you did not see anyone taking the law into their own hands."
Most people, so far, had attended the coffee sessions to simply catch up and meet a Muslim, he said.
"Even though we are here to answer all sorts of questions, the objective is to remove misunderstanding and build bridges.
"There is no such thing as a controversial question or an offensive question. It is an open platform."
Mr Al-Zafar said it was better for people to ask questions rather than continue to hold incorrect views about Islam.
"It is an uncomfortable experience if someone holds a certain opinion about you even though you don’t believe in that.
"For example, we have seen people base their views on anti-muslim propaganda websites, rather than coming and talking to a Muslim.
"If you have never met a Muslim, how are you meant to correct your views?" he said.
Mr Qamar said the tour would be documented on their "Meet a Muslim" YouTube channel, along with other educational videos, to reach a wider audience.
"The best way to move forward is unity."
It was also important to prevent misunderstandings within the Muslim community, he said.
A lot of radicalisation took place online and social media sites often drove people down a "rabbit hole".
"[We are trying to] keep New Zealand protected from that far-Right thought which we see increasing in other Western countries."
Mr Qamar said it was often Muslim youth, who felt lonely or a sense of lack of community, who were drawn into radicalised messages.
The group will head to Timaru and then on to Christchurch today, before heading on to Blenheim, Nelson and on to the North Island.
