An imam who was allegedly the victim of racial abuse during a roadside assault has thanked the police who helped him and his wife.
Ismet Purdic, a respected Islamic community leader from Noble Park in Melbourne’s south-east, was driving on the South Gippsland Highway near Dandenong South with his wife on Saturday night when the couple was allegedly assaulted.
Police said the couple encountered another vehicle, a hatchback, and were racially abused by its occupants.
The imam and his wife pulled off the highway and into a service station, where the abuse allegedly continued and the occupants of the other car damaged the couple’s vehicle, police said.
Ismet Purdic said he had sought medical treatment following the alleged incident, but that he and his wife had been comforted by the community support.
“I’m better right now, but I don’t know what to say because this is very terrible, and very, very bad experience for me and my wife,” he said.
“I can’t imagine … if my kids were with us.”
He said he believed he and his wife had been targeted after the occupants of the other vehicle noticed his wife’s hijab.
“My message for all of us in Australia is just to stay together to help each other to stay safe, and not to allow anyone, doesn’t matter … his religion or beliefs, to break this peace, security and all [the] good values we believe in,” he said.
The imam returned to the Noble Park Mosque today, where he met with other community leaders, Victorian Multicultural Affairs Minister Ingrid Stitt and senior police.
“I want to thank everyone who helped us and stayed with us,” he said, adding he especially wanted to thank Victoria Police.
“We must, as Australians, fight against hate, Islamophobia, antisemitism … we must stay together, he said.
Ismet Purdic said he wanted to thank police and other officials who helped him and his wife. (ABC News: Patrick Rocca)
Earlier, Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan condemned the alleged attack and voiced support for the couple.
“I want to say very clearly to the Muslim community, but particularly Muslim women, that I will 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,” she said.
In a statement, Victoria Police said there was “absolutely no place for prejudice-motivated, religious-based or hate-based behaviour in our society”.
“Such activity will not be tolerated,” it said.
A 23-year-old Cranbourne North man and 22-year-old Cranbourne East man have been charged with criminal damage and common law assault over the alleged incident.
An 18-year-old Dandenong South woman was released pending summons.