A 31-year-old woman from Melbourne has been charged with assaulting two Muslim women in what authorities suspect was an Islamophobic attack at a shopping center.
The incident took place on February 13 at Epping Shopping Centre, where the accused allegedly targeted the victims due to their religious attire. According to police, she reportedly grabbed and choked a 30-year-old pregnant woman by her hijab before attacking a 26-year-old woman separately. Both victims sustained non-life-threatening injuries.
The assault has sparked widespread outrage. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese condemned the attack as “reprehensible” and reaffirmed his commitment to addressing religiously motivated violence.
“I take all attacks on individuals based on their faith seriously, and they should face the full force of the law,” he stated.
Albaneseβs remarks also came in response to criticism from Muslim communities, including Australian cricketer Usman Khawaja, who accused the government of not doing enough to combat Islamophobia.
The incident occurs amid growing concerns about hate crimes in Australia, particularly following heightened tensions in the Middle East. Reports indicate a surge in both Islamophobic and anti-Semitic incidents since October 2023, when violence escalated between Hamas and Israel.
Melbourne police confirmed the suspect had been arrested and charged with assault. “There is absolutely no place for discrimination, racism, or hate-based behavior in our society,” a police spokesperson stated.
The victims, deeply shaken by the attack, described the experience as traumatic. One of them, Ealaf al-Esawie, shared that she felt “terrified” and has struggled to move on from the ordeal.
