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Perth Now
3 days ago
- Politics
- Perth Now
New blow for hate speech preacher
A Muslim preacher who made 'fundamentally racist' and 'anti-Semitic' remarks in a series of speeches will be prevented from any attempt to 'bury' an admission he broke the law. Wissam Haddad was found to have breached the racial discrimination act following a four-day hearing in the Federal Court last month over a series of speeches he gave in November 2023, in which he described Jewish people as 'vile', 'treacherous', 'mischievous' and 'wicked and scheming'. The Executive Council of Australian Jewry's (ECAJ) co-chief executive Peter Wertheim AM and deputy president Robert Goot AO SC to launched court action against Mr Haddad over the speeches, arguing they constituted unlawful discrimination; Mr Haddad claimed he was referring to Islamic scripture in most cases. Wissam Haddad was found in breach of the racial discrimination act. NewsWire / Nikki Short Credit: News Corp Australia The proceedings also extended to the Al Madina Dawah Centre (AMDC) for posting videos of the speeches online via Facebook and video-sharing platform Rumble. Justice Angus Stewart found Mr Haddad and AMDC breached the racial discrimination act in delivering and publishing the speeches online, which he said included 'fundamentally racist and anti-Semitic' age-old tropes against Jewish people which were reasonably likely to offend, insult, humiliate and intimidate Jewish people in Australia. More than two weeks following the judgment, Justice Stewart has now moved to prevent corrective notices from being 'deliberately buried' on Mr Haddad's and AMDC's social media pages. Mr Haddad was ordered to post a corrective notice to Instagram and Soundcloud for 30 days, which is required to be given prominence by being 'pinned' to the top of his Instagram profile and added as a story highlight. Wissam Haddad fronted a four-day hearing in the Federal Court in June. Christian Gilles / NewsWire Credit: News Corp Australia The notices include words expressing Mr Haddad and AMDC breached the racial discrimination act and were required to remove the speeches and not to repeat or continue 'unlawful' behaviour. AMDC were similarly ordered to add the notice as a 'featured' post on Facebook, and a featured video on Rumble. 'In short, the 'pinning' and 'featuring' of the posts will prevent them from disappearing from view in a short period of time, and it will prevent them from being deliberately buried by way of successive further posts,' Justice Stewart said in his judgment. While Mr Haddad and AMDC accepted changes to the wording of the notices put forth by ECAJ, they argued the feature and pin tools on Instagram and Facebook were typically used for entrepreneurial and marketing purposes, and therefore would force them to 'advertise' and 'promote' the notice and go beyond what they considered an appropriate redress measure. However Justice Stewart was satisfied pinning and featuring posts on the platforms was 'not onerous', 'complicated' or 'time consuming', and doesn't require the payment of any fees. 'I am also not persuaded that to require the respondents to 'pin' and 'feature' the corrective notices would be unduly burdensome from the perspective of dominating or cluttering their relevant accounts,' Justice Stewart's judgment stated. 'Other posts will still be able to be made, and it is proposed that the notices are required to be published for only 30 days.' He noted the notice would be promoted to an extent, but said Mr Haddad and AMDC had 'promoted the unlawful lectures and it is not disproportionate to require them to promote the corrective notice'. He also rejected Mr Haddad and AMDC's arguments the lectures weren't 'directly' posted to Instagram and Facebook, finding the links posted on the platforms to those lectures facilitated 'easy access for anyone interested in seeing the lectures'. Executive Council of Australian Jewry members Robert Goot and Peter Wertheim leave Federal Court. NewsWire / Jeremy Piper Credit: News Corp Australia Executive Council of Jewry Deputy President Robert Goot. NewsWire / Nikki Short Credit: News Corp Australia Mr Wertheim welcomed the new order in a statement on Thursday afternoon. Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-chief executive Peter Wertheim said: 'We see this as an essential part of counteracting the harm that was caused by their online promotion and reproduction of Haddad's anti-Semitic speeches,' Mr Wertheim said. In his judgment at the beginning of July, Justice Stewart discarded arguments by Mr Haddad and AMDC that the speeches in question were exempt under 18D of the racial discrimination act as they had a genuine purpose in the public interest, and in AMDC's case, that the speeches were a 'fair and accurate report' on a matter of public interest. They had also submitted the relevant sections of the racial discrimination act were beyond parliamentary powers due to the implied freedom of political communication, and additionally the freedom to exercise any religion as per the constitution, both of which Justice Stewart found to have failed. Both Mr Haddad and AMDC were ordered to remove the lectures from their social media and to take all reasonable steps to request any re-publishers also remove the speeches if they become aware of their redistribution. He moved to restrain Mr Haddad from discriminating against Jewish people in the future, barring him from causing words, sounds or images to be communicated anywhere 'otherwise than in private' which attribute characteristics to Jewish people that convey any of the disparaging imputations identified from the speeches. Mr Haddad and AMDC were also ordered to cover the costs of the Federal Court proceedings.
Perth Now
01-07-2025
- Politics
- Perth Now
Preacher's court loss after anti-Jew speeches
A Muslim preacher sued over a series of speeches in which he described Jewish people 'treacherous' and 'vile' has lost his racial discrimination case. Wissam Haddad, also known as Abu Ousayd, fronted a four-day hearing in the Federal Court last month over a series of lectures he gave in November 2023, a month after the October 7 attack in Gaza. The speeches allegedly included derogatory language about Jewish people, including describing them as 'vile' and 'treacherous'. Proceedings were launched against Mr Haddad by the Executive Council of Australian Jewry (ECAJ) co-chief executive Peter Wertheim AM and deputy president Robert Goot AO SC, who argued the speeches constituted unlawful discrimination. Muslim preacher Wissam Haddad was taken to court over a series of alleged anti-Semitic speeches. Christian Gilles / NewsWire Credit: News Corp Australia Wissam Haddad claimed he was referring to Islamic scripture in most cases. Christian Gilles / NewsWire Credit: News Corp Australia The speeches allegedly inferred Jewish people were 'very mischievous', oppressed one another, and were 'wicked and scheming' among other statements, according to ECAJ's statement of claim. The lengthy document included alleged transcripts from the speeches, with one excerpt claiming Jewish people 'used to kill their own prophets' while another described Jewish people as 'descendants of apes and pigs'. Mr Haddad claims he was referring to Islamic scripture in most cases. Mr Wertheim and Mr Goot submitted the speeches were reasonably likely to offend, insult, humiliate or intimidate Jewish people in Australia. Executive Council of Australian Jewry members Rover Good and Peter Wertheim leave Federal Court. NewsWire / Jeremy Piper Credit: News Corp Australia The speeches were also published online, with the action extending to the Al Madina Dawah Centre (AMDC) for allegedly posting videos of the sermons on their Facebook and Rumble pages. Justice Angus Stewart delivered his judgment on Tuesday afternoon at the NSW Federal Court, where he found Mr Haddad and AMDC did breach the racial discrimination act by delivering and publishing the lectures. Mr Haddad and AMDC have been ordered to remove the lectures from their social media. Justice Stewart also moved to restrain Mr Haddad from causing words, sounds or images to be communicated anywhere but in private which attribute characteristics to Jewish people that convey any disparaging imputations identified from the lectures. More to come
Herald Sun
01-07-2025
- Politics
- Herald Sun
Muslim preacher Wissam Haddad loses racial discrimination case
Don't miss out on the headlines from Breaking News. Followed categories will be added to My News. A Muslim preacher sued over a series of speeches in which he described Jewish people 'treacherous' and 'vile' has lost his racial discrimination case. Wissam Haddad, also known as Abu Ousayd, fronted a four-day hearing in the Federal Court last month over a series of lectures he gave in November 2023, a month after the October 7 attack in Gaza. The speeches allegedly included derogatory language about Jewish people, including describing them as 'vile' and 'treacherous'. Proceedings were launched against Mr Haddad by the Executive Council of Australian Jewry (ECAJ) co-chief executive Peter Wertheim AM and deputy president Robert Goot AO SC, who argued the speeches constituted unlawful discrimination. The speeches allegedly inferred Jewish people were 'very mischievous', oppressed one another, and were 'wicked and scheming' among other statements, according to ECAJ's statement of claim. The lengthy document included alleged transcripts from the speeches, with one excerpt claiming Jewish people 'used to kill their own prophets' while another described Jewish people as 'descendants of apes and pigs'. Mr Haddad claims he was referring to Islamic scripture in most cases. Mr Wertheim and Mr Goot submitted the speeches were reasonably likely to offend, insult, humiliate or intimidate Jewish people in Australia. The speeches were also published online, with the action extending to the Al Madina Dawah Centre (AMDC) for allegedly posting videos of the sermons on their Facebook and Rumble pages. Justice Angus Stewart delivered his judgment on Tuesday afternoon at the NSW Federal Court, where he found Mr Haddad and AMDC did breach the racial discrimination act by delivering and publishing the lectures. Mr Haddad and AMDC have been ordered to remove the lectures from their social media. Justice Stewart also moved to restrain Mr Haddad from causing words, sounds or images to be communicated anywhere but in private which attribute characteristics to Jewish people that convey any disparaging imputations identified from the lectures. More to come Originally published as Muslim preacher Wissam Haddad breached racial discrimination act in series of speeches, court finds
Zawya
28-03-2025
- Business
- Zawya
African Forum on Mining Calls for Bold Action to Transform the Continent's Mineral Sector
The 3rd African Forum on Mining (AFM), held from March 19 to 21, 2025, at the African Union Commission's Headquarters, concluded with a strong call to action for African nations to harness their vast mineral wealth for sustainable development, industrialization, and economic transformation. Organized by the African Union (AU)'s African Minerals Development Centre (AMDC), the forum brought together key stakeholders, including government officials, private sector representatives, development partners, civil society, academia, artisanal and small-scale miners, and women and youth leaders in mining. A key takeaway from the forum was the reaffirmation of the Africa Mining Vision (AMV) as the guiding framework for the continent's mineral resource governance. Sixteen years after its adoption, the AMV's achievements were highlighted, particularly in policy development, geological and mineral information systems, support for artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM), and promoting minerals-based industrialization. The forum also emphasized the importance of reliable geological data for informed decision-making, with the African Green Minerals Observatory and the African Mineral Resource Classification and Management System (AMREC-PARC) identified as critical tools for harmonizing geological information and improving mineral governance. Participants stressed the need for a unified digital platform for geological data sharing and increased investment in geological mapping to support these efforts. The forum recognized the significant role of artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) in Africa's economy and emphasized the need for formalization, improved access to financing, and value addition. Successful initiatives such as mercury-free gold extraction and the African Gemstone Jewellery Exhibition and Conference (AGJEC) were highlighted as models for inclusive mining development, particularly benefiting women and youth. The forum also noted with concern the slow progress in ratifying AMDC's legal framework, with only four AU member states having completed the process. Participants called for accelerated political engagement to strengthen AMDC's mandate and enhance its implementation capacity. A major milestone at the forum was the launch of the African Green Minerals Strategy (AGMS), a fundamental l step in advancing Africa's industrialization and electrification through green minerals. AGMS seeks to position Africa not just as a supplier of raw materials but as a hub for green industrialization and value addition. Another key outcome of the forum was a call for the African Union to launch a High-Level African Critical Minerals Diplomacy to ensure that the continent benefits from the surging global demand for critical green minerals. The proposed diplomacy aims to strengthen continental coordination, enhance Africa's bargaining power, and ensure that mineral agreements prioritize local value addition over raw material exports. It also seeks to promote responsible investment, transparency, and sustainability, safeguard environmental integrity and community rights, and establish strategic global partnerships that align with Africa's development goals. Speaking at the forum, Mrs. Ron Osman, Director of Industry, Minerals, Entrepreneurship, and Tourism (IMET) at the African Union Commission, pointed to the need for Africa to take control of its mineral wealth. "Africa holds the key to the world's ambitions for a just energy transition. Our continent is endowed with an unparalleled abundance of critical green minerals. However, the challenge lies in transforming this potential into equitable, sustainable growth for Africa while contributing to global progress. The African Green Minerals Strategy presents a unique opportunity for us to take control of our resources, move up the value chain, and drive industrialization for our people's prosperity." Highlighting Africa-Europe cooperation in the mining sector, Mr. Gianluca Azzoni, Head of Policy&Cooperation at the EU Delegation to the AU, remarked, "Africa and Europe stand at a defining moment in history—one where sustainable raw material partnerships can drive industrialization, value creation, and economic transformation. The EU is not just investing in Africa; we are investing with Africa—to ensure that critical minerals fuel Africa's development first while securing a resilient and responsible global supply chain for the future." In her closing remarks, Dr. Marit Kitaw, Interim Director of AU-AMDC, emphasized the urgency of translating discussions into action. She urged African governments to implement the forum's recommendations, strengthen institutional frameworks, and invest in mining sector industrialization. "This is not just a matter of economics. It is about sovereignty, justice, and the future of African youth. The African Mining Vision is our compass. The African Green Minerals Strategy is our roadmap. Now we need unified, high-level diplomacy to turn Africa's resource wealth into real, lasting development." The forum concluded with a commitment to developing a strategic roadmap for the next decade to guide AMV implementation, strengthen regional collaboration, and ensure that Africa's mineral wealth drives economic transformation for the benefit of all Africans. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Union (AU).
