Aiia Maasarwe’s dad reveals the heartbreaking moment he found out about his daughter’s death

In a heartbreaking interview, murdered student Aiia Maasarwe’s father revealed the haunting moment he found out about her death.

It has been couple of weeks filled with a torturous wait for answers and a crushing blow which Saeed Maasarwe will never forget.

As he packed his bags after a whirlwind trip to be reunited with his daughter in the most horrific circumstances imaginable, the father of murdered Palestinian exchange student Aiia wiped the tears from his eyes as he delivered a powerful message for Australia.

Speaking to Jamila Rizvi on The Project, he described the chilling moment he found out about his daughter’s death, the powerful positive energy she had always exuded and what he hopes the world will learn from her brutal slaying on the streets of Melbourne.

He began by describing how Aiia saw the light in every situation.

“She was like (an) angel, even when she was born,” he said. “The first day, from the beginning everything special, really, the smile, the face. Very smart when she’s very, very young.”

Her cousin Sharef added that the 21-year-old was full of life and energy.

Saeed Maasarwe broke down as he spoke of the moment he found out he’d lost his daughter.

“Her smile makes you smile,” he said, breaking down as he spoke. “Her laugh makes you laugh. She was so positive all of the time.”

Her heartbroken dad Saeed then described how the talented student had ended up in Melbourne and he recalled the moment she told him about Australia.

“She said it is nice. It is a beautiful country, it is a (safe) country (with a) nice culture,” he said.

He told the show he supported his daughter’s decision to head to Australia instead of the US and she had been enjoying living in Melbourne as she made friends and studied at La Trobe University.

He still stands by that fateful decision to support her travels.

“This is our job (as) the parents,” he said. “We need to give to our child the best as we can. To give them more opportunity.”

“... This is the way we need to make (the) world more beautiful and more nice and have (a) more colourful future.”

He then heartbreakingly recalled the moment he found out what had happened to his child.

“I pray it’s not true,” he said. “I pray it’s dream. I pray it’s not Aiia.”

Aiia Maasarwe was remembered as intelligent woman show the light in every situation. Picture: Instagram

Battling through the despair, he couldn’t believe the amount of support Aiia’s family was shown when they arrived in Australia — adding the supporters could never know how helpful they had been.

In his final message for Australia before departing to his homeland, Saeed couldn’t hold back the tears as he talked about his daughter and the legacy he hopes she will leave.

“I wish my daughter Aiia to be with her family again,” he said. “We wish for her to be in the paradise and for everything to be good for her in another way, another place she is now. This is just what we can do.”

He added that he wishes the lessons learnt from the tragedy that has befallen his family can make Australia and the world a more beautiful place and save lives.

The devastating interview came shortly before Aiia’s relatives boarded a flight out of Melbourne on Tuesday with numerous notes, artworks and other tributes which have been left since the 21-year-old was found dead last week.

Saeed became tearful as he prepared to jet home to Israel with his daughter’s body.

A companion told reporters that a selection of items left in tribute to Aiia will be taken to the family’s home at Baka al Gharbiyye, an hour north of Tel Aviv, with plans to use them as part of a shrine.

Hundreds turned out to pay their respects to Aiia. Picture: Allan Lee / AFP

One of Aiia’s sisters, Noor, posted on Instagram an artwork with the words “Dare to Dream”, noting that her sibling had big dreams.

“She was living a dream in Melbourne, a dream that ended up being worst (sic) than a nightmare,” she wrote.

Noor had been on the phone to Aiia when she was attacked at the northern suburb of Bundoora last week.

“Violence against women is not a women issue, it is a men issue.

“No one deserve to be treated like that.”

But Noor also left Australia with a positive message.

“A BIG thanks to the people of Australia, Baqa al Gharbiyye and people from around the world for their love, care and support. Reminding us that there are still good people in the world.”

At a Dandenong mosque last night where hundreds of people gathered in tribute to Aiia, Mr Maasarwe made a heartfelt plea for “more peace”.

“We want to make the world more peace (sic) and more safety and more beautiful, and more smile and more forgive each other. This is the message we want to send. This is not me, but Aiia,” he told reporters.

“I wish all the people see the light and go to the light. Don’t be in the dark. And to think positive.”

The body of the Palestinian Arab of Israeli citizenship will be buried in line with her Muslim faith after a funeral on Wednesday.

Codey Herrmann, 20, has been charged with Ms Maasarwe’s rape and murder. Picture: Facebook

Mr Maasarwe visited the spot at the northern suburb of Bundoora where his daughter was found last Wednesday morning.

The night before the student of a college at La Trobe University had alighted a tram and was walking home after visiting a city comedy club.

Codey Herrmann, 20, has been charged with Ms Maasarwe’s rape and murder. Victorian upper house MP Jeff Bourman has used Ms Maasarwe’s death in a renewed push for the legalisation of “non-lethal self-defence” items. The Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party representative has previously called for “people of good standing” to be able to legally obtain items including a Taser and pepper spray to defend themselves.

“We need to allow innocent people the option to level the playing field,” he said in statement.

— with wires