Bianca Harkless
Editor-In-Chief
Stipe Lozina, an Australian man who attacked a pregnant Muslim woman, has been sentenced to three years in prison. Rana Elasmar, who was 38 weeks pregnant at the time of the attack was approached by the man sitting at a cafe in Sydney, Australia.
After speaking to Elasmar briefly, Lozina punched the mother several times and stomped on her head as she fell to the ground. Others jumped in to stop the offense before it could go any further than it already had. It is important to note that at the time of the attack, Elasmar was wearing a hijab, which is a head covering worn by some females of the muslim faith.
Lozina reportedly made a racist comment at the expecting mother before assaulting her. Elasmar told Nine News that she was focused on protecting her unborn child. Thankfully, the mother only had minor injuries and her son was unharmed.
She told reporters outside the courthouse for the sentencing of Lozina that “if you feel the right to physically or verbally abuse someone who looks a bit different than you, then Australia’s not the right country for you.” Although the attack happened months ago, she is still experiencing physical and psychological effects from it.
During the time in court, Stipe Lozina pleaded guilty to assault, but said that he was neither Islamophic or racist and that played no part in the attack. “I don’t hate them, but I don’t get along with them. I’ve got no business with them,” said Lozina in court. He was sentenced to a maximum of three years in jail with a non-parole period of two years.
During the trial, Judge Christopher Craigie described how Lozina “put his hands out after for money” before he began his attack. There is footage of the attack to show exactly what happened during the altercation, although it is quite graphic. The judge reported that Lozina struck 14 blows to Elasmar before she fell and the man started to stomp on her. “Ms. Elasmar lay in a fetal position trying to protect her abdomen as the offender got closer kicking and stomping her head.” said Judge Craigie according to the report.
In the video, viewers can see other citizens jumping in to halt the attack. Elasamar’s son was born healthy 3 weeks later. “I remember thinking, ‘It’s okay, hit my head as long as you don’t touch my baby,’” she reportedly said in court. She later added that “Islamophobia needs to end. Violence against women needs to stop.”
Image Credit: DailyMercury.com
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