Australian police charged a 31-year-old woman with allegedly assaulting two Muslim women in Melbourne last week, one of whom was pregnant, over their head coverings, ABC News reported on Feb. 19.
Suzan Gonulalan, 31, faces charges of “intentionally and recklessly causing injury, unlawful assault, and aggravated assault” following the attacks. Local police stated that “the victims were allegedly targeted due to wearing head coverings.”
“There is absolutely no place in our society for discriminatory, racist, or hate-based behaviour, and such activity will not be tolerated,” the police said.
According to local authorities, the assaults occurred on Feb. 13.Gonulalan is accused of attacking a 30-year-old pregnant woman at the Pacific Epping shopping centre on High Street before allegedly assaulting a 26-year-old woman 10 minutes later.
One victim recounted being grabbed from behind and choked with her hijab in front of her four-year-old daughter, while the other reported being beaten and pushed to the ground. Reports confirm online threats directed at one of the victims.
Gonulalan was out on four sets of bail and had a history of committing targeted attacks, police say. She was freed on a fifth set of bail on Feb. 13 evening, despite the opposition of police and the victims in the case.
Detective Acting Sergeant Leanne Parfett told the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court the women were assaulted because they were wearing hijabs.