Two men charged after imam allegedly assaulted, threatened in Islamophobic attack

A Muslim leader allegedly attacked on Saturday says he was punched in the face during a terrifying racist attack that has prompted calls from religious organisations for stronger action on Islamophobia.

Three people were arrested on Sunday after Imam Ismet Purdic, leader of the Bosnia-Herzegovina Islamic Society in Noble Park, and his wife were allegedly driven off the road and racially abused in Melbourne’s south-east.

Brendan Nicholls, a 23-year-old man from Cranbourne North, has been charged with assaulting Purdic and damaging the imam’s car. Police said his co-accused, a 22-year-old man from Cranbourne East, was to be charged with assault and criminal damage.

An 18-year-old woman from Dandenong South was also arrested, but released pending summons.

Nicholls was remanded in custody to appear in Dandenong Magistrates’ Court on Monday. However, the matter was adjourned after the court heard he was withdrawing from an undisclosed substance and behaving erratically.

Nicholls’ screams from his remand cell could be heard from the courtroom.

The other accused man was released on bail to appear in court in May.

Purdic on Monday described the profound trauma caused after he and his wife were allegedly targeted with Islamophobic slurs and threats, including a stabbing threat and physical assault.

Police said the imam and his wife were driving along the South Gippsland Highway in Dandenong South about 7.40pm on Saturday when they were targeted with racial abuse from the occupants of a nearby black hatchback.

The hatchback allegedly blocked the imam’s vehicle, forcing him off the road and into a service station, before the occupants got out of the hatchback and damaged the couple’s car.

In a statement to this masthead, Purdic said the attack allegedly began with the men throwing cans and food while the couple were driving.

After forcing the car off the road, Purdic said, the men began kicking his car, with one of the men smashing the vehicle’s side mirror with his hand.

“I was getting out of the car, and the other one punched me in the face, on the left cheek below the eye. The taller of the two ran to the other side of the car to attack my wife and take her cell phone … One of the attackers threatened to stab my wife,” the imam said.

Purdic said that soon after witnesses intervened, which prevented the two men from instigating further attacks.

“I want to emphasise that I was attacked without any provocation,” he said. “They insulted me with vulgar words motivated by Islamophobia.

“We must all work to prevent this kind of thing from happening in Australia, and we all together must make a choice in what kind of world we want to live in.”

Premier Jacinta Allan said she spoke with Purdic and his wife on Monday, and described the attack as a “terrible” instance of Islamophobia.

“I want to say very clearly to the Muslim community, but particularly to Muslim women, that I will fight and support your right every single day to live freely in this state, free from hate, and also fight for your right to move around our community safely and with dignity,” Allan said.

Purdic received medical treatment on Monday for his injuries, a spokesperson for the Australian National Imams Council confirmed.

The Bosnia-Herzegovina Islamic Society condemned the attack and said Purdic had called on Australians to work together to prevent racist attacks.

“The imam has expressed gratitude that his children were not present, noting the profound trauma the incident has caused,” the statement said.

“Imam Purdic has served the community for more than 12 years as a religious leader, educator and interfaith advocate through the Interfaith Network Dandenong, promoting peace, coexistence and mutual respect.

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

The Australian National Imams Council said the alleged offenders appeared to be of “Anglo white appearance with distinctive tattoos, and were exhibiting behaviour and language consistent with white supremacist and extremist hate ideology”.

“This attack comes despite Victoria formally recognising 15th March as the United Nations International Day to Combat Islamophobia,” the council said in a statement.

“ANIC also warns that political rhetoric and irresponsible media commentary are actively fuelling this violence, particularly the dangerous false equivalence being drawn between peaceful pro-Palestinian advocacy and the Bondi terror attacks.”

The council urged stronger national action on Islamophobia and far-right extremism.

The Greens lashed the premier for failing to act on a reported rise in attacks on Muslims.

“These targeted and disproportionate acts of violence on Muslim Australians demand more than hollow words,” said Anasina Gray-Barberio, the Greens spokeswoman for multiculturalism and anti-racism.

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