Updated
The sister of Aiia Maasarwe, the 21-year-old Palestinian citizen of Israel killed in Melbourne last week, has described the family’s loss as “worse than hell” during a vigil held in their home city.
The community in Baka al Gharbiye, a majority Palestinian locality in northern Israel, gathered to call for an end to violence against women and for Ms Maasarwe’s body to be returned, after the student was allegedly raped and murdered near a tram stop in Melbourne.
Codey Herrmann, 20, has been arrested and charged.
“I feel so bad that she had to see that by herself … but I hope and I know she is in a better place,” sister Nour Maasarwe told reporters.
Locals held signs reading “the blood of women is not [cheaper than men’s]” and asking for Ms Maasarwe’s body to be returned home as soon as possible.
Her sister Ruba Maasarwe — who had been speaking to her sister on the phone when the attack happened — was also at the vigil, but has been unable to speak due to grief, the ABC understands.
Aiia Maasarwe was studying in China and moved to Melbourne to complete a year at La Trobe University.
Melburnians held a vigil outside Victoria’s Parliament House on Friday, and have been leaving flowers at the site where she was killed.
Her uncle Ahmad Maasarwe said he was grateful to “the Australian people, the Muslim community, and the Palestinian community, and all those who showed support and solidarity” with his niece.
However, he told the ABC that they were waiting for the body because it was extremely significant for Muslims to bury the dead as soon as possible.
He said the family was “confused” about why Ms Maasarwe’s body had not already made its journey home.
“It is a critical issue, as Muslims and Palestinians, when someone dies for us, the most crucial and important thing in this moment is to release her body,” he said.
“The family is in a lot of grief.
“Aiia was a flower, she was a diamond. Her parents were waiting for her to graduate with a diploma, they get a coffin instead.”
Another uncle, Jamil Maasarwe, said the support of the Australian Government and community had “eased the pain, what the family is going through”.
“One bad thing happened, but good things also happened,” he said.
“We really appreciate the support from the Prime Minister Scott Morrison, and all the things the police department achieved in a short time.”
Ms Maasarwe’s father Saeed Maasarwe arrived in Melbourne last week after the news broke, and is waiting for her body to be released by Australian authorities.
It is understood that Ms Maasarwe’s body, which has been held as part of the investigation, will be released by the Coroner to the family on Monday afternoon.
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