Vigil for Aiia Maasarwe: calls for permanent memorial in Bundoora ‘to make sure this doesn’t happen again’

Murdered student Aiia Maasarwe’s emotional father and cousin addressed a moving memorial on Sunday afternoon, with dad Saeed urging the crowd to never forget his “smiling Aiia”.

Murdered student Aiia Maasarwe’s body is expected to be flown back to Israel on Tuesday, as calls grow for a permanent memorial to honour her life and send a message against violence.

Aiia’s father and cousin addressed an emotional vigil in Bundoora on Sunday afternoon where more than 400 people shared hugs and tears at the site where the 21-year-old was killed.

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There was applause when speaker Aseel Tayah said she was starting a petition to add a roadside memorial to remember Ms Maasarwe and “make sure this doesn’t happen again”.

Ms Maasarwe’s father Saeed said he supported the idea as a way to remember her.

“Don’t forget Aiia, don’t forget smiling Aiia,” he said.

“We, and Aiia, want to send a message here to the people, to the city, send the message for love, for peace, for life.”

The tribute site in Bundoora where the vigil was held. Picture: Jason Edwards

Aiia's father Saeed Maasarwe attended the service. Picture: Jason Edwards

Ms Maasarwe’s cousin Sharef Maasarwe flew over from New York this morning just before the vigil and was helping with the repatriation process.

He said the family did not feel hatred or anger over her brutal rape and murder, but wanted the focus to be on remembering her “loving” and “happy” personality.

“Even though she’s not with us any more her voice continues to live on and it’s a voice of love and peace and happiness and joy for life,” he said.

“We don’t want her to be remembered by this incident, how horrific and how terrible it was, we want to have this feeling of love and peace and energy because that’s how she was as a person.”

Mr Maasarwe hugs a stranger after the vigil. Picture: Jason Edwards

In Israel, her uncle Abed Ali Kattani said the delay in returning Aiia’s body was very difficult on the family.

“The sister (Noor) came tonight from Shanghai, the father (Saeed) is in Melbourne, the uncles came from the US,” he said. “This split brings a bad mental state.

“When you bury someone you have a relief, so we focus on the body and the burial.

“We will have signs saying ‘We want Aiia now’ and ‘We need Aiia here’.”

Organiser of the Bundoora vigil Elle Monteleone said the large turnout showed that people were deeply affected by what happened and wanted to take a stand.

“It shouldn’t take something like this to come together as a community,” she said.

“But I think we recognised that there's got to be a change. These are our streets. We care about one another. We’ve got to band together.”

Mourners gather around Aiia's father Saeed. Picture: Jason Edwards

La Trobe University student Ashleigh Brandse said last week’s murder had brought up memories of being assaulted and spat on at a tram stop in Bundoora three years ago.

The 21-year-old was in her first week of uni at the time of the attack — and said she had not got public transport since.

She said students were feeling terrified in the wake of Ms Maasarwe’s death.

“It happens too often. After every single one of those (murders) we say we have to do something and change but it never happens.”

Meredith Proctor from neighbouring suburb Kingsbury said last week’s murder was a worrying reminder that random attacks could happen anywhere.

“I’m upset, I’m angry,” she said. “It’s getting to the point where you’re hear the same message being repeated all the time about being vigilant. But it keeps happening. We need to tackle the root cause of violence.”

A car parked on the lawn next to the vigil had a sign painted on the rear window saying “everyone has the right to get home safely”.

The tribute came after thousands of mourners attended the Keeping Silent vigil on the steps of state parliament on Friday night.

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