Elham Asaad Buaras
A hijab-wearing young woman was violently assaulted at 1 p.m. on February 13 at Epping Plaza in Melbourne’s north, just four days into her new job as a childcare worker. Ealaf Al-Esawie was on her lunch break when she was suddenly attacked. She believes the incident was motivated by religious bias. The 27-year-old was one of two women attacked at the shopping centre that same day. Victoria Police confirmed that two separate incidents took place at Epping Plaza and stated that authorities are reviewing CCTV footage.
“Investigators believe that the victims were targeted due to the women wearing head coverings and are treating the incidents as prejudice-motivated attacks,” Victoria Police said in a statement. “There is absolutely no place in our society for discriminatory, racist, or hate-based behaviour, and such activity will not be tolerated.”
Speaking through tears, the mother of two told ABC News that she “had done nothing wrong” and that her assailant did not speak to her before launching the attack. Born and raised in Australia, Al-Esawie described being thrown to the ground with such force that she was left in pain and distress. “I don’t feel safe anymore. I’ve never encountered anything like that in my life,” she said.
Two nurses who were having lunch nearby rushed to assist Al-Esawie, who remained on the ground, visibly shaken and traumatized. She revealed that the attack had caused memory loss due to the trauma, leaving her too afraid to leave the house alone. Photographs show visible bruising on her arms and legs following the attack, which she said affected her ability to stand properly.
Al-Esawie also learned that the same assailant had earlier attacked another Muslim woman inside the shopping centre. She met the second victim—a 30-year-old pregnant woman—when they were both taken to Northern Hospital for treatment. The second victim reported the incident to the Islamophobia Register Australia, a not-for-profit organization that tracks and documents anti-Muslim abuse. According to her report, she was assaulted from behind as the perpetrator forcibly removed her headscarf and choked her while she was seated at a café with a friend.
The attack on Al-Esawie and the pregnant woman comes amid a sharp rise in Islamophobic and antisemitic incidents in Australia, particularly following the outbreak of the Israel-Gaza conflict. The Islamophobia Register Australia reported a staggering 510% increase in Islamophobic incidents since the conflict began. Since October 7, 2023, the organisation has received 1,111 reports, with a 13-fold surge in incidents within the first three months of the war. Before the escalation, an average of 2.53 cases were recorded weekly; this number has now risen to 15.43.
The Australian National Imams Council condemned the attacks, describing them as a “horrifying escalation of Islamophobic violence targeted at innocent people in our communities simply because of their faith.”
“Despite the prompt response of police and ambulance officers at the scene, the aftermath of this incident has left the victims feeling ignored and fearing for their safety,” the council stated. Al-Esawie expressed her deep concern over the attack, saying it felt like retaliation for a recent controversy involving two Sydney nurses. The nurses were caught on video making threats towards Israeli patients, which later sparked widespread outrage.
“What was said in that video was horrible and disgusting,” Al-Esawie said. “But I can’t help but feel this attack on me was ‘payback’ for looking visibly Muslim.”
Nora Amath, Executive Director of the Islamophobia Register, acknowledged the severity of recent cases, stating, “While we haven’t seen a statistical rise in reported incidents since the Sydney nurses’ video emerged, the intensity of these attacks has increased, which is deeply concerning.”
“I am not surprised Ealaf felt that the vicious and completely unprovoked attack on her and the pregnant woman was intended for payback for the Bankstown Nurses video,” Dr. Amath added. Al-Esawie, now fearful for her safety, said, “I didn’t do anything wrong. But now I have to take my sister with me [to] places because I’m scared to be alone.”
The Islamic Council of Victoria condemned the attacks, calling for all levels of government to denounce such violence and ensure justice. The council further urged law enforcement to charge the perpetrator for their crimes.
According to a survey conducted by the Australian Human Rights Commission, 80% of Australian Muslims report experiencing discrimination, particularly in interactions with law enforcement and in professional settings.
Al-Esawie sustained physical injuries from the attack, including severe bruising and swelling. She required X-rays and was referred to a clinic for back pain management.
“I barely could stand [after the incident],” she said. “I felt like all my bones broke when I fell.”
After sharing her experience in online forums, Al-Esawie received multiple death threats from individuals warning her against speaking out. She informed the police officer handling her case about the threats but did not receive a clear resolution.
Photo: Melbourne police: (Credit: Creative Commons)
