Young woman who staged ISIS-inspired terror act forced to remove niqab in court

A YOUNG terrorist who staged an ISIS-inspired attack on a Melbourne dad has been forced to remove her niqab and show her face to a Victorian judge.

A YOUNG terrorist who staged an ISIS-inspired attack on a Melbourne dad has been forced to remove her niqab and show her face to a Victorian judge.

Momena Shoma, 25, appeared at the Supreme Court today to plead guilty to a single count of engaging in a terrorist act.

She refused to stand as Justice Elizabeth Hollingworth entered court, as is customary across all Victorian courts, but complied with a request to remove her niqab to prove her identity.

STUDENT CAME HERE TO BE ISIS TERRORIST

TERROR CHARGE OVER ‘ISLAMIC STATE-INSPIRED’ STABBING

DAD VICTIM OF ALLEGED ‘ISIS-INSPIRED’ ATTACK

Shoma was required to leave the face covering off for several minutes as she confirmed personal details with the court and entered her formal plea of guilty.

Shoma pleaded guilty to intentionally engaging in a terrorist act “with the intention of advancing a political, religious or ideological cause, namely violent jihad”.

By her plea Shoma admitted the jihad had the intention of “coercing, or influencing by intimidation” the government or public.

After the February attack the Bangladeshi student told police she came to Melbourne for the sole purpose of carrying out a terrorist attack on behalf of Islamic State.

She was in Melbourne just a week before she launched the attack on her homestay host Roger Singaravelu, plunging a 25cm knife into his neck as he slept near his young daughter.

“I had to do it … it could have been anyone … he just seemed like a very easy target,” Ms Shoma told police.

Momena Shoma, 25.

Roger Singaravelu. Picture: AAP

“I had to push myself. I wouldn’t even hurt a rat … I just felt like if I don’t do it, I will be sinful, I will be punished by Allah.

Ms Shoma said she didn’t read or write Arabic but believed from conversations with people on online forums that Islamic State were calling women to fight on their behalf.

She said she acted on the direction of Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, yelling “Allahu Akbar” during the attack.

“I just felt like I had ridded myself of blame. I didn’t care whether it was successful or not … in front of Allah I just can tell him that I tried.

“I just felt obligated, and it was like a burden on me. I just had to do it.”

Mr Singaravelu described the attack in terrifying detail in a police statement.

“I thought that I was dreaming as I felt a sharp pain on my neck. I woke up and started screaming,” he said.

“I saw (her) right next to me, she was on her knees, with both of her hands on a knife that was in my neck.

“(She) had such an intense look. Her eyes were so intense. She was saying “Allahu Akbar”, she kept on saying this over and over.”

Shoma described the attack as: “like my remembrance … Allah is the greatest,” she said.

She is facing a maximum penalty of life in prison.

Before being placed with Mr Singaravelu and his family Ms Shoma was living with another host family, but was moved after concerns were raised about her behaviour.

The first family told the Australian Homestay Network: “We’re scared, we don’t want her living with us”.

Ms Shoma performed what was described as a “practice run” attack on a mattress in her first host family’s home.

She was then placed with Mr Singaravelu’s family.

Mr Singaravelu, who was in court today, is suing the Australian Homestay Network, which organised the student’s placement.

[e-mail]

@s_deery

Originally published as Young woman who staged ISIS-inspired terror act forced to remove niqab in court