Melbourne Attacks: Targeted Pregnant Muslim Woman Speaks Out as Suspect Arrested
The suspect, from Pascoe Vale, is accused of assaulting a 30-year-old woman from Lalor and a 26-year-old woman from Wollert on February 13. Police believe the attacks were motivated by the victims' head coverings.
The incidents, which occurred between 1:10 and 1:20 p.m., left both victims with non-life-threatening injuries. They were taken to Northern Hospital for treatment.
The suspect has been charged with multiple offenses, including intentionally and recklessly causing injury, unlawful assault, and aggravated assault, Star Weekly reported on Wednesday.
She is set to appear before Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday. Meanwhile, authorities are also investigating online threats reportedly made against one of the victims.
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One of the victims, Kawthar Ali, has spoken publicly about the ordeal, describing the attack as both physically and emotionally devastating.
Ali, who is over 26 weeks pregnant, recounted that she was having lunch with her friend and four-year-old daughter when she was attacked from behind. "I went to turn around to see who was behind me but by then she grabbed my scarf very hard and tried to completely rip it off," ABC News quoted her as saying. Ali described how the attacker then wrapped the hijab around her neck and choked her.
Despite efforts from Ali and her friend to free her, she recalled that the woman was "very strong." The attacker eventually released her grip and fled after verbally abusing Ali.
The incident left Ali in shock and unable to stop crying. Her daughter, who witnessed the attack, has since suffered nightmares, and Ali said she now fears leaving her home alone.
The attack on Ali took place about 10 minutes before another Muslim woman, Ealaf Al-Esawie, was assaulted in the same shopping centre. Al-Esawie was punched, slapped, and pushed to the ground. Victoria Police stated that both incidents were being treated as "prejudice-motivated attacks."
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Ali sustained injuries that required a neck brace, as well as bruising to her knee. While her unborn child was unharmed, she said her mental health had been severely affected.
"After the attack, I was scared of any person who'd walk by, that they may hit me or attack me. I was afraid, very depressed, kept crying, and I kept waking up from nightmares in the middle of the night bursting into tears," she shared.
Community advocates have raised concerns about the response from authorities and medical services. Mariam Ardati, from Action Against Islamophobia, said both victims were not provided with immediate mental health support. She criticized police for not following up with the victims until days after the attack and Northern Hospital for failing to refer them to counseling services.
Australia’s special envoy to combat Islamophobia, Aftab Malik, expressed concern over the increasing normalization of such attacks, asking, "How would you like walking in the street, shopping, minding your own business and suddenly from behind you're punched, slapped and pushed?" He emphasized that beyond words, tangible action was needed to address rising Islamophobia.
Source: Agencies
