Muslim leader and wife allegedly abused, assaulted in Melbourne
Police are investigating reports of an Islamic community leader being assaulted after he and his wife were forced off the road by a vehicle and racially abused in Dandenong South.
4 hours agoSun 11 Jan 2026 at 7:25pm
Police have condemned an alleged incident where an imam and his wife were allegedly forced off the road by a vehicle and abused in Melbourne's south-east. (ABC News)
In short:
An Islamic community leader has allegedly been assaulted after he and his wife were forced off the road by a vehicle and racially abused by its occupants in Dandenong South.
The Board of Imams Victoria has condemned the alleged attack as targeted, faith-based hatred.
What's next?
Two men are expected to appear in court, while a woman is expected to be charged by summons.
Police are investigating an alleged incident against an Islamic community leader and his wife in Melbourne's south-east.
Investigators have been told the couple were driving along the South Gippsland Highway near Dandenong South about 7:40pm on Saturday when they were forced off the road by a small black hatchback.
The couple said the car continued to block their vehicle, forcing them into a nearby service station, where the occupants allegedly got out and hurled anti-Muslim abuse at them and damaged their car.
It's alleged they then assaulted the husband, who the Board of Imams Victoria has identified as 47-year-old Imam Ismet Purdic.
Police say the incident came to an end after passers-by — whom they described as Good Samaritans — intervened, prompting the alleged offenders to get back into their car and flee.
Two men and a woman have since been arrested.
A 23-year-old Cranbourne North man and 22-year-old Cranbourne East man have been charged with criminal damage and common law assault.
One of the men will appear in Dandenong Magistrates' Court today, while the other has been released on bail to appear in May.
An 18-year-old Dandenong South woman was released pending summons.
"There is absolutely no place for prejudice-motivated, religious-based or hate-based behaviour in our society and such activity will not be tolerated," Victoria Police said in a statement.
The Board of Imams Victoria condemned the alleged attack as targeted, faith-based hatred and said the incident has sent shockwaves through the entire multicultural community.