An Elderly Pregnant Muslim Woman Stepped On And Punched By An Islamophobic Man In Australia

A pregnant Muslim woman, Rana Elasmar (32), was attacked by Islamophobia from a man named Stipe Lozina (44) (NSW POLICE via BBC)

JAKARTA - A pregnant woman, Rana Elasmar (32), was attacked by Islamophobia from a man named Stipe Lozina (44). Lozina punched and stomped on the woman in Sydney. As a result of his actions, Lozina was sentenced to 3 years in prison.

Launched by the BBC on Thursday, October 1, when the incident occurred, Elasmar, who was 38 weeks pregnant, was with friends at a cafe in November last year.

Lozina entered the cafe and approached their table, to ask for money. When he was rejected, he immediately attacked Elasmar who was fueled by religious prejudice.

Prosecutors said Lozina shouted, "you Muslims crush my mother" before bending down and punching Elasmar to the ground.

Lozina hit Elasmar 14 times and stomped on the back of his head before another customer managed to grab him.

Lozina's attack was caught on security cameras. The video caused public outrage in Australia.

Judge Christopher Craigie's earlier sentencing described it as a "sinister and grievous assault" from a man who was "decidedly unwell".

"The attack has the potential to cause very serious injuries to the victim and her unborn child," he said, Thursday, October 1.

Elasmar told the court in September he felt he was being targeted because of his religion. She was worried about her baby's life, and herself.

"If nobody intervened, I could have been killed," he said.

"I made a conscious decision to keep my stomach from being hit. I wanted to protect my baby."

As a result of this attack, he suffered minor injuries. Three weeks later, she gave birth to a boy.

But, the court heard, he had suffered trauma since the attack. She was also terrified of being in public and explained the attack to her four children.

"Islamophobia must end. Violence against women must stop," he said last month.

Lozina refused legal assistance and represented herself in court. During his trial, he made a lot of incoherent rant, Australian media reported.

The judge noted that he had been diagnosed with schizophrenia and had a "long-term struggle with mental illness".

He will be eligible for parole in 2022.