Three charged over race-hate attack on Imam Ismet Purdic and wife in Dandenong South

Three people have been charged over a terrifying attack on a prominent Muslim leader and his wife in Victoria.

Dr Ismet Purdic, 47, an imam from the Bosnian Herzegovinian Islamic Society, was travelling with his wife in a car along South Gippsland Highway about 7.40pm on Saturday when the couple were racially abused by occupants of a small black hatch.

Police say the hatchback blocked the victim’s car, forcing it into a nearby service station.

It is alleged two occupants of the hatchback got out of their vehicle and continued to racially abuse Dr Purdic and his wife, who wears a hijab, and damage their vehicle.

When Dr Purdic exited his car, he was allegedly punched in the face and threats were made to stab his wife.

Good Samaritans intervened before the offenders allegedly returned to their vehicle and fled.

Dr Purdic, who has been a religious leader and interfaith advocate for more than 12 years, expressed relief that his children were not in the car at the time of the attack.

He has also called on all Australians to work together to prevent such hatred and violence.

The attack came just weeks after the Australian National Imams Council warned of a 200 per cent surge in hate-driven incidents following the Bondi terror attack.

Three people were arrested in Dandenong South on Sunday, 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.

The Cranbourne East man was bailed to appear at Dandenong Magistrates’ Court on May 22.

An 18-year-old Dandenong South woman was released pending summons.

In a statement, police said “There is absolutely no place for prejudice-motivated, religious based or hate-based behaviour in our society and such activity will not be tolerated.”

The Imams Council has condemned the “vicious and religiously motivated assault”.

“This cowardly attack is a disturbing reminder of the escalating danger facing visibly Muslim Australians.”

It continued, “The psychological trauma suffered by the victims is severe. No family in Australia should fear being attacked simply for their faith, appearance, or identity.”

The Council said political rhetoric and irresponsible media commentary were fuelling anti-Muslim violence, “particularly the dangerous false equivalence being drawn between peaceful pro-Palestinian advocacy and the Bondi terror attacks”.

“This framing has contributed directly to a surge in Islamophobic abuse, threats and physical assaults, both online and in our streets.”

On December 29, the council revealed it had recorded an almost 200 per cent increase in reported anti-Muslim hate incidents since December 14.

Vandalism of Islamic institutions, verbal harassment, physical intimidation, and online hate were among the distressing acts reported since the Bondi massacre.

Ingrid Stitt, Victoria’s Minister for Multicultural Affairs, said “violent, racist, Islamophobic, and misogynistic violence has no place in Victoria.

“Our government condemns it unequivocally,” she said.

“No Muslim woman should fear that she will have her hijab ripped off. No Victorian should have to worry whether they are safe driving down the street.

“We pride ourselves on the multiculturalism that has built Victoria – but it must be defended. Racists will always seek to divide us, but our strength is in our diversity, and we must always stand up to it.”