Aiia Maasarwe's body to be released from the coroner after pleas from family

The body of murdered international student Aiia Maasarwe is due to be released from the Victorian coroner on Monday.

A tribute to student Aiia Maasarwe following her death.

A tribute to student Aiia Maasarwe following her death. Source: AAP

A family's wish to have their daughter Aiia Maasarwe returned to them is due to be granted, with her body expected to be released later today.

Ms Maasarwe's body is expected to be given to a funeral director for repatriation. 

Her father Saeed Maasarwe, had asked for his daughter's body to be released so he could lay her to rest. 



"Take her home for a proper burial and funeral," he told The Age on Sunday while he attended a tribute in her honour. 

The news comes as about 1000 people gathered outside a mosque in Israel on Saturday calling for the return of the Palestinian Arab of Israeli citizenship's body.

"The Land Wants Aiia Back," read some of the placards, while others called for an end to violence against women across the globe.

They chanted "we need Aiia home," "we are all Aiia's sister's, Aiia is the daughter of all of us".



Noor Maasarwe said she'd been watching the news when she realised her sister had been found dead in Melbourne.

"They didn't say for who it was," Ms Maasarwe told Nine News on Sunday from Israel.

"But it matches all the details. It was on the same road. Everything. I was just praying that it's not her.

"But then I saw the shoes and her phone ... I was sure it was her."

Her family had previously thought the international student had been kidnapped or had fallen while on her way home from a comedy show in Melbourne.

Ms Maasarwe had been speaking to her sister on the phone when she was attacked after alighting a tram in Bundoora.



Her body was found about 7am on Wednesday.

Aspiring rapper Codey Herrmann, 20, is due to appear in Melbourne Magistrates Court later today accused of her rape and murder.


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