Elham Asaad Buaras
Three people have been arrested after an imam was forced off the road and assaulted in what police say was a racially motivated attack in Melbourne’s south-east.
The alleged assault took place at about 7.40 pm on January 10, when a 47-year-old Ismet Purdić and his wife were travelling along the South Gippsland Highway. Police say the couple were racially abused by the occupants of another vehicle before being forced into a service station.
According to investigators, three people in a small black hatchback hurled objects at the couple’s car, drove aggressively to intimidate them, and later got out of their vehicle. The imam was allegedly punched in the face, while his wife was threatened. Members of the public intervened before the alleged attackers fled the scene.
The Bosnia-Herzegovina Islamic Society in Noble Park, described the impact of the incident on Purdić and his wife as “profound”.
In a statement, the organisation said the imam had expressed relief that his children were not present during the incident but emphasised the psychological toll it had taken on the family.
“Imam Purdić has served the community for more than 12 years as a religious leader, educator and interfaith advocate,” the statement said, highlighting his work with the Interfaith Network Dandenong to promote dialogue and coexistence.
In a Facebook post following the attack, Purdić thanked supporters for their messages of concern. “Me and my wife are doing fine and so are the kids,” he wrote. “Thank you all.”
The alleged attack was condemned by the Australian National Imams Council, which described it as “cowardly” and said the imam was recovering after being punched in the face.
“The psychological trauma suffered by the victims is severe,” the council said. “No family in Australia should fear being attacked simply for their faith, appearance or identity.”
Victoria’s premier, Jacinta Allan, also condemned the incident, saying she had spoken directly with the imam and his wife.
“There is no place for Islamophobia, no place for this sort of hate anywhere in Victoria,” she said on Monday, January 12. “I want to say very clearly to the Muslim community, and particularly Muslim women, that I will support your right every single day to live freely in this state, free from hate, and to move around safely and with dignity.”
Police arrested three suspects in Dandenong South on Sunday, January 11.
A 23-year-old man from Cranbourne North and a 22-year-old man from Cranbourne East have been charged with criminal damage and common law assault. The Cranbourne North man was remanded in custody and appeared at Dandenong Magistrates’ Court while the Cranbourne East man was bailed to appear at the same court on May 22.
An 18-year-old woman from Dandenong South was released pending summons.
Victoria Police said there was “absolutely no place for prejudice-motivated, religious-based or hate-based behaviour in our society”.
The Australian Federation of Islamic Councils (AFIC) said it was deeply alarmed by the incident, warning it formed part of a wider pattern of rising Islamophobic attacks across the country. “This is not an isolated event,” AFIC said in a statement, citing an increase in reports of abuse, intimidation, vandalism and violence targeting Muslim individuals, families, schools and community organisations.
AFIC president Dr Rateb Jneid said the attack was “horrifying, but sadly not surprising”.
“We are witnessing a deeply disturbing rise in anti-Muslim hate,” he said. “Unless it is addressed urgently and comprehensively, more people will be harmed.”
The organisation renewed calls for a national anti-Islamophobia strategy, stronger political leadership in condemning anti-Muslim violence, and for law enforcement agencies to treat Islamophobic attacks with the same seriousness as other hate crimes.
“An attack on an imam and his wife is not just an assault on two individuals,” Dr Jneid said. “It is an attack on the dignity and safety of an entire community.”
Photo: Ismet Purdić and his wife were travelling along a highway. Police say the couple were racially abused by the occupants of another vehicle (Credit: Bosnia-Herzegovina Islamic Society)
Photo: Ismet Purdić and his wife were travelling along a highway when the couple were racially abused by the occupants of another vehicle (Credit: Bosnia-Herzegovina Islamic Society)
