'Violent, manipulative, controlling': Domestic violence groups slam Mehajer
Domestic violence campaigners and legal experts have slammed Salim Mehajer's recent behaviour as "unacceptable".
Footage revealed on Monday night showed Mehajer in the middle of a furious rant allegedly directed at his estranged wife Aysha Mehajer.
The video was reportedly recorded after Aysha left her home with Salim to take refuge with family.
In the clip, Salim Mehajer yelled at the camera that Aysha has "five minutes to call him back" before threatening to rape her parents and calls her a "f**ing s**t" and saying he wished she would die.
The footage was reportedly sold to the media by a "concerned friend" of Aysha.
Anti Domestic Violence campaigners have described the language used by Mehajer in the videos as violent, maniuplative and controlling.
Libby Davis, CEO of White Ribbon, said language of that kind was "used as a control."
"It is used to manipulate and it is used to absolutely dominate the other party," she said.
"It represents a form of violence against that person, often a form of violence that's very invisible."
Lawyer and specialist in criminal law Sam Macedone spoke with 7 News regarding the videos and their content.
"What he said in fact constitutes more than one crime," Macedone said.
"Personally I know that the police have said they're investigating the matter, they're looking at the video."
"I think the video and what we hear was rather appalling," he said.
"What got to me the most was the tone in which it was delivered."
"This thing ticks all the boxes, if [police] don't do something about it then honestly the community are entitled to believe they're not fair dinkum about these laws."
In another video posted on social media on Monday night, Salim, his sister, stepbrother and friends are seen mocking media reports of his abusive videos.
On Tuesday, Mehajer's media adviser told 7 News that his estranged wife Aysha is "upset" that a friend "leaked these videos to the media".
When questioned as to how Aysha felt about being the subject of the video, no comment was given from Mehajer.
In a statement to 7 News, he said only that Aysha was "a beautiful, warm, amazing individual, whom I believe was betrayed or set-up by someone who supplied A Current Affair with these out of context videos to make a sensationalised story.”
Earlier on Tuesday, it was revealed NSW Police could take action against Salim Mehajer following his tirade.
The former deputy mayor also released a statement on Monday, but did not apologise over the content of the videos.
“I am totally disappointed that a well-known reporter can make a statement on TV and think it can hold any weight emotionally or seriously in the public forum,” he said.
The 30-year-old said the journalist should instead focus on stories in Monday’s tabloids, which include the cover up of sexual abuse against a 14-year-old girl.
“No offence, the reporter needs to spend their time getting shaken up by the ‘real’ stories that need ‘real’ awareness, not by an individual yelling into their personal phone camera,” Mehajer said.
Mehajer claims to have abusive messages sent by Aysha but maintains he has too much integrity to make them public.
“Unfortunately drawing attention to himself has kind of backfired on him,” former Auburn councillor Irene Simms said.
“I still don’t know that he’s worked that out for himself.”
Mehajer is also facing multiple court actions, financial woes and the Auburn Public Inquiry.
For more on White Ribbon's Campaign to End Men’s Violence Against Women, visit:
http://www.whiteribbon.org.au/
To find help and support, phone: 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)
Or visit: www.1800respect.org.au/
News break – August 23
