<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>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 </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/melbourne" rel="" target="" title="Melbourne's"><span>Melbourne's</span></a><span> south-east.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>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.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>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.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/bondi-junction-vest-arrest-concern-and-fear/b3345c0f-581f-4a17-9a5b-08b7e035eb17" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>'Genuine concern and fear': Man charged over duct-taped vest in Bondi Junction</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"One of them punched me forcefully in this position, on the face," Purdic said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I can't imagine... What if my kids were with us? Just in shock.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We are afraid and and and we have to find a way out of from this situation."</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/victorian-imam-ismet-purdic-and-wife-assaulted-in-racist-attack-south-gippsland-highway/d868f682-d313-48eb-9462-8a88081a7340" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Passersby who witnessed the incident stopped to intervene when the three suspects jumped back into the car and left.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>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.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The two men were charged with assault and criminal damage.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Purdic condemned the "outpouring of hate".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"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.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>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.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He could be heard screaming from the cells at Dandenong Magistrates Court during the hearing.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The 23-year-old was remanded in custody to return to court tomorrow where he may apply for bail.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The 22-year-old man was bailed to appear at court in May.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/victoria-bushfires-updates-body-found-longwood-blaze-emergency-warnings-in-place/1204a8a3-ef3b-4ab3-98e2-990abc6b2320" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Bushfire death 'devastating', premier says, as blazes still rage</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The woman was released pending summons.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Muslim leaders say incidents of religious hate in Victoria are out of control since the Bondi massacre.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"There's a lot of fear in the Muslim community, particularly with the Muslim women," Imam Moustapha Sarakibi said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"It's now something that they have to think about every time they leave their house.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Definitely a lot of fear and a lot of concern with where this is all heading."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Imam Purdic will take some time off his official duties at the Noble Park Mosque to recover.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>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.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We must, as Australians must fight against hate, Islamophobia, anti-Semitism, and all bad things," Purdic said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"My mission is to share peace and security with people.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We must stay together and fight it and not allow anyone to break this good life in Australia."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>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."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>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".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"No Victorian should have to worry about whether they are safe driving down the street," she said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Racists will always seek to divide us, but our strength is in our diversity, and we must always stand up to it."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>- With AAP</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/how-to-follow-9news-digital/29855bb1-ad3d-4c38-bc25-3cb52af1216f" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP</span></em></strong></a><strong><em><span>: Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. 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