Police have arrested three people over an alleged attack on Muslim leader Imam Ismet Purdic and his wife on Saturday night in south-east Melbourne.
On Monday, Premier Jacinta Allan said: “There is no place for Islamophobia... anywhere in Victoria.”
Here’s what you need to know.
Details
Imam Ismet Purdic and his wife were driving in Dandenong South when they were allegedly racially abused by the occupants of another car.
The pair pulled into a nearby service station after the other vehicle allegedly blocked their car.
The abuse continued, with the alleged offenders damaging Purdic’s vehicle.
After exiting the car, Purdic was allegedly assaulted.
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Two men in their 20s were charged with criminal damage and assault.
One faced court on Tuesday, while the other is set for May.
An 18-year-old woman was released by police pending summons.
This means that she needs to attend court, but the date has not yet been set.
Response
Yesterday, Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan condemned the attack, telling the Muslim community: “I will support your right every single day to live freely in this state.”
Australian National Imams Council (ANIC) said that “political rhetoric and irresponsible media commentary are actively fuelling this violence” through a “false equivalence being drawn between peaceful pro-Palestinian advocacy and the Bondi terror attacks.”
