'We are afraid': Muslim leader speaks out after alleged racist attack on Melbourne road

Monday, 12 January 2026 18:36

The Imam alleges his car was blocked by the hatchback, forcing him into a nearby service station where his wife was threatened and he was ambushed.

An Islamic religious leader has told of his shock and fear after he and his wife were allegedly run off the road and attacked in Melbourne's south-east.

Imam Ismet Purdic and his wife were driving along the South Gippsland Highway in Dandenong South just after 7.30pm on Saturday when three people in a black hatchback allegedly began yelling racist abuse and throwing rubbish at their car.

The imam alleges his car was blocked by the hatchback, forcing him into a nearby service station where his wife was threatened and he was ambushed.

Imam Ismet Purdic and his wife were driving just after 7.30pm on Saturday when three people in a black hatchback allegedly began yelling racist abuse and throwing rubbish at their car.

"One of them punched me forcefully in this position, on the face," Purdic said.

"I can't imagine... What if my kids were with us? Just in shock.

"We are afraid and and and we have to find a way out of from this situation."

Passersby who witnessed the incident stopped to intervene when the three suspects jumped back into the car and left.

The trio, including 23-year-old Cranbourne North man Brendan Nicholls, a 22-year-old Cranbourne East man and an 18-year-old Dandenong South woman were arrested yesterday.

The two men were charged with assault and criminal damage.

Purdic condemned the "outpouring of hate".

"Thank god my children stayed at home. I can't imagine how horrible it would have been if the children had seen and experienced this," he said.

Nicholls was unable to face court today because he is withdrawing from drugs and was at risk of self-harm, his lawyers told the court.

He could be heard screaming from the cells at Dandenong Magistrates Court during the hearing.

The 23-year-old was remanded in custody to return to court tomorrow where he may apply for bail.

The 22-year-old man was bailed to appear at court in May.

The Imam was allegedly run off the South Gippsland Highway in Dandenong South.

The woman was released pending summons.

Muslim leaders say incidents of religious hate in Victoria are out of control since the Bondi massacre.

"There's a lot of fear in the Muslim community, particularly with the Muslim women," Imam Moustapha Sarakibi said.

"It's now something that they have to think about every time they leave their house.

"Definitely a lot of fear and a lot of concern with where this is all heading."

Imam Purdic will take some time off his official duties at the Noble Park Mosque to recover.

But he wants his community at the Bosnia-Herzegovina Islamic Society Noble Park Mosque to push ahead with welcoming visitors for an open day in a couple of weeks' time.

"We must, as Australians must fight against hate, Islamophobia, anti-Semitism, and all bad things," Purdic said.

"My mission is to share peace and security with people.

"We must stay together and fight it and not allow anyone to break this good life in Australia."

Victoria 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."

Multicultural Affairs Minister Ingrid Stitt said this alleged "violent, racist, Islamophobic and misogynistic violence has no place in Victoria and our government condemns it unequivocally".

"No Victorian should have to worry about whether they are safe driving down the street," she said.

"Racists will always seek to divide us, but our strength is in our diversity, and we must always stand up to it."

- With AAP

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