The father of the Israeli exchange student found dead in central Melbourne has made a heartfelt plea for peace as her body is returned home.
Aiia Maasarwe was killed in Melbourne while she was on FaceTime to her sister.
The 21-year-old exchange student's body was found partially clothed in bushes in Bundoora, in the north of the city, last Wednesday morning.
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Her father, Saeed Maasarwe, broke down while speaking at the Albanian Islamic Centre mosque in Dandenong.
"We want to make the world more peace and more safety and more beautiful, and more smile and more forgive each other," he told reporters.
"This is the message we want to send. This is not me, but Aiia.
"I wish all the people see the light and go to the light. Don't be in the dark. And to think positive."
Her family have been desperate to see her body as they want to bury her in line with their Muslim faith, 7 News reports.
Her funeral is set to take place in Israel on Wednesday.
Aspiring Australian rapper Codey Herrmann has been charged with her murder.
Newshub.
