AhlulBayt News Agency (ABNA): An Australian man who punched and stomped on a pregnant Muslim woman has been sentenced to three years in prison.
Rana Elasmar, a mother of four, was 38 weeks pregnant when the attack took place last November.
She was sitting in a Sydney cafe, wearing a hijab, when Stipe Lozina approached her table.
After briefly speaking to her, Lozina punched Elasmar several times and stomped on her head when she fell to the ground. Elasmar's friends and other patrons leapt from their seats to restrain him. The incident was captured on CCTV, which was shown in court.
Lozina made a racist remark before the unprovoked attack.
Elasmar said that she had been focused on protecting her unborn baby.
Ms Elasmar, 32, had been sitting at a table with two women, who along with other customers tried to restrain Lozina and eventually managed to pull him away.
His victim deliberately turned her abdomen away from her attacker - and prayed for God to protect her child as she feared being killed, the court heard.
Ms Elasmar, who was wearing a hijab at the time, said Lozina first asked for money before assaulting her and yelling "you Muslims ..... my mum".
She suffered minor injuries and said her son Zayn is "happy and healthy", The Guardian reported.
Lozina was removed from the sentencing hearing at Parramatta district court on Thursday after a racist outburst.
Ms Elasmar said: "The victim suffers with the consequences far longer than the time the offender serves.
"It's worrying that he's still displaying aggressive behaviour and a short temper."
Her husband, Azzam Elasmar, added: "Thinking about this guy potentially being on the streets within two years is a safety hazard for the community, it puts everyone at risk. This guy can definitely reoffend."
Lozina, 44, had told the court he was remorseful, but that he was "too violent" to walk free. According to 9News, last month he said: "I belong in a hospital."She said: "I've been verbally abused before because of my religion, but this has cemented that the Australian public is really supportive. It's given me confidence to walk out again and wear my hijab."It's been a positive in showing that Islam is not something to be feared."
Months after the attack, Elasmar was still experiencing the physical and psychological effects, her sister said in June.
On Thursday, he was sentenced to a maximum three years in jail, with a non-parole period of two years.
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His victim deliberately turned her abdomen away from her attacker - and prayed for God to protect her child as she feared being killed, the court heard.
Ms Elasmar, who was wearing a hijab at the time, said Lozina first asked for money before assaulting her and yelling "you Muslims ..... my mum".
She suffered minor injuries and said her son Zayn is "happy and healthy", The Guardian reported.
Lozina was removed from the sentencing hearing at Parramatta district court on Thursday after a racist outburst.
Ms Elasmar said: "The victim suffers with the consequences far longer than the time the offender serves.
"It's worrying that he's still displaying aggressive behaviour and a short temper."
Her husband, Azzam Elasmar, added: "Thinking about this guy potentially being on the streets within two years is a safety hazard for the community, it puts everyone at risk. This guy can definitely reoffend."
Lozina, 44, had told the court he was remorseful, but that he was "too violent" to walk free. According to 9News, last month he said: "I belong in a hospital."She said: "I've been verbally abused before because of my religion, but this has cemented that the Australian public is really supportive. It's given me confidence to walk out again and wear my hijab."It's been a positive in showing that Islam is not something to be feared."