Omar Yassine, 50, appeared in Bankstown Local Court on Wednesday after being arrested and charged with stalking and intimidation following an alleged Islamophobic verbal attack on a 13-year-old Muslim schoolgirl. He was denied bail and berated the judge as he was led away.
Court appearance and denial of allegations
Yassine, who chose not to have legal representation, told the court he had “hurled a few insults” at the girl, her friends, and a person he thought was a teacher, but denied being the instigator. “I didn’t threaten or intimidate anyone,” he said from the dock. “All I did was raise my phone ... a person alleged I took a photo (of them). There were four students hurling threats and abuse at me.”
The police prosecutor said the evidence against Yassine was strong, noting his 46-page criminal record. The evidence included a video recorded by the 13-year-old on an inner-western Sydney bus, which showed Yassine calling her a barrage of names.
Alleged abuse and public reaction
The year 8 student, wearing her school uniform and hijab, was allegedly called a “fucking terrorist” and an “immigrant dog” among other insults in the clip, which was later shared online. The girl and other passengers reported the tirade to police after getting off the bus at Strathfield station.
Officers arrested Yassine at a home in nearby Greenacre after the girl and her mother went public about the incident on Tuesday. In the video, the teen told the man she was born in Australia and reminded him of her young age, but the alleged abuse continued. The girl and her mother told the ABC the incident was “really disgusting”.
Judge's decision and reaction
In court, Yassine repeatedly interrupted the police prosecutor and acting Judge Garry Still. He argued he should be released on bail, saying he would report to police and was not a risk of committing another serious offence. Judge Still disagreed, stating, “This is a vulnerable victim, a 13-year-old on public transport. There are a number of matters on your record ... and you are just off a community corrections order.”
Upon being refused bail, Yassine turned his disdain on the judge. “You’re pre-empting my behaviour ... how did you come up with that conclusion?” he said as he was led off to the cells. “Good work, Your Honour – bow down to them, mate.”
Background and political response
The alleged abuse began after the 13-year-old stood up for another girl in a hijab who believed Yassine was taking photos of her without her knowledge. Strathfield state MP Jason Yat-sen Li said he was “horrified and deeply angry” about the alleged incident, while congratulating the teen for speaking up. “Let me be absolutely clear: Strathfield will not tolerate racist or Islamophobic abuse, particularly when it targets children,” he said.
Yassine was not required to enter a plea and will return to court at a later date.
