A Muslim religious leader in Victoria was punched in the face after he and his wife were forced from their car on a Melbourne freeway. Police say the couple faced a racially motivated attack on the South Gippsland Highway at 7.40pm on Saturday. Three people in a black hatchback allegedly shouted racial abuse, threw objects, and drove dangerously to scare them. They then forced the couple into a service station, got out, assaulted the imam, and threatened his wife. The Australian National Imams Council called it a “cowardly attack.” The 47-year-old man from Noble Park is recovering from the punch. “The psychological trauma suffered by the victims is severe. No family in Australia should fear being attacked simply for their faith, appearance, or identity,” the council said. Members of the public intervened before the attackers fled. Police arrested three suspects in Dandenong South on Sunday. A 23-year-old man from Cranbourne North and a 22-year-old man from Cranbourne East face charges of criminal damage and common law assault. The 23-year-old is in custody and will appear in Dandenong Magistrates Court on Monday. The 22-year-old was granted bail and will appear on May 22. An 18-year-old woman from Dandenong South was released pending summons. Victorian police said on Monday, “There is absolutely no place for prejudice-motivated, religious based or hate-based behaviour in our society and such activity will not be tolerated.”