Three people have been arrested after a Muslim leader was allegedly forced from his car on a Melbourne freeway and punched in the face in what police say was a racially motivated attack. The incident occurred on the South Gippsland Highway in Melbourne’s south-east at 7.40pm on Saturday.
Police allege the 47-year-old imam and his wife were racially abused by three occupants of a small black hatchback, who hurled objects and drove dangerously to intimidate the couple. The alleged offenders forced the couple to drive into a service station, where they got out and assaulted the imam and threatened his wife.
The Bosnia-Herzegovina Islamic Society in Noble Park identified the imam as Ismet Purdic, who has served the community for more than 12 years. The society said the couple had suffered “profound trauma” and expressed gratitude that their children were not present.
Members of the public intervened before the alleged offenders returned to their vehicle and fled. A 23-year-old Cranbourne North man and a 22-year-old Cranbourne East man have been charged with criminal damage and common law assault. The Cranbourne North man was remanded in custody to appear at Dandenong Magistrates Court on Monday, while the Cranbourne East man was bailed to appear on 22 May. An 18-year-old Dandenong South woman was released pending summons.
Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan condemned the attack, saying: “There is no place for Islamophobia, no place for this sort of hate anywhere in Victoria.” The Australian National Imams Council described it as a “cowardly attack” and noted the imam was recovering after being punched in the face.
