Yesterday evening in Melbourne, more than 1000 mourners gathered on the steps of Parliament House for a vigil in remembrance of Aiia Maasarwe.
They were joined by Aiia’s father, Saeed Maasarwe, who had travelled to Melbourne on Wednesday to identify his daughter’s body. Earlier in the day, he visited the place her body was found, and through tears, told reporters:
“I am sad because this is the last place my daughter was. I have many dreams to be with her but I cannot now. I want to be with her more. But someone decide I cannot be.”
Saeed Maasarwe, Aiia’s father, visited the area where her body was found. He had planned to visit Australia at the end of the months to spend two weeks with her, and said she put off going to Sydney until he arrived.
“She said: No, papa, I wait for you. And now, I wait for her.” pic.twitter.com/dZO7stwmVh— Calla Wahlquist (@callapilla) January 18, 2019
Many of the mourners had brought flowers and cards with messages for Aiia and her family, as well as protest signs that asked questions like, “Am I next?” and “My outrage cannot fit on this page!”
Aiia’s father sat in silence on the steps, surrounded by people who’d never met his daughter but who felt deeply affected by her death nonetheless. Following the silent vigil, he collected some of the cards with messages for Aiia.
Saeed Maasarwe is collecting cards that have been left with the flowers, reading messages for his daughter. #AiiaMaasarwe pic.twitter.com/TWWrvUvWoL
— Calla Wahlquist (@callapilla) January 18, 2019
Aiia’s father, centre, with hundreds of Melburnians who never met his daughter but are here for her regardless. #AiiaMaasarwe pic.twitter.com/mH9Uga0D5J
— Rohan Smith (@Ro_Smith) January 18, 2019
Yet another vigil for yet another woman murdered at the hands of a man. #AiiaMaasarwe ? pic.twitter.com/fUBde3BznE
— Mariam Veiszadeh (@MariamVeiszadeh) January 18, 2019
In a fittingly Melbourne tribute, the 8.01pm 86 tram from Bourke Street to Bundoora, where Aiia was found on Wednesday morning, was filled with mourners bearing flowers and candles.
People waited at nearly every stop along the route to pay their respects, and many of them handed flowers to those on board the tram, riding it as it travelled through the inner-west towards Bundoora.
The Number 86 tram. In memoriam #AiiaMaasarwe pic.twitter.com/IY1Wdn2Qdi
— Natasha Mitchell?? (@natashamitchell) January 18, 2019
I’m on the 86 memorial tram for Aiia Maasarwe. At stops the doors have been opening and people leaving flowers. So much love and kindness from strangers pic.twitter.com/Vi1tP78yWD
— Jo Lauder (@jolauder) January 18, 2019
We travel. On an 86 tram full of flowers, receiving more at each & every stop. To Bundoora. Where Aiia Maasarwe should have made it home from safely. #AiiaMaasarwe pic.twitter.com/zfEd1wnddY
— Natasha Mitchell?? (@natashamitchell) January 18, 2019
After arriving at Bundoora, the flowers were taken to a makeshift memorial that has been established where Aiia was found on Wednesday.
Aiia Maasarwe was a 21-year old Palestinian attending La Trobe University on exchange, where she was studying English. In the caption of one Instagram video, she described her decision to go on exchange as the “best decision I ever made”.
A 20-year-old man was taken into custody on Friday regarding Aiia’s death, but charges have not yet been laid.