Latest news with #AlMadinaDawahCentre
The Advertiser
6 hours ago
- Politics
- The Advertiser
Muslim preacher defends 'dehumanising' sermons on Jews
An Islamist preacher's speeches that allegedly painted Jewish people as "vile and treacherous" were not racist but formed part of a robust discussion, his lawyer has argued. Sydney-based Al Madina Dawah Centre cleric Wissam Haddad has been accused of racial discrimination after a series of fiery sermons from November 2023, which have racked up thousands of views online. In one of his speeches, he appears to blame the roots of "the enmity that we see today" on "none other than the Jews ... because their forefathers had shown the same enmity to the Prophet (Mohammed)." Mr Haddad is being sued by Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-chief executive Peter Wertheim and deputy president Robert Goot, who are seeking the removal of the allegedly racist speeches. They also want Mr Haddad to be barred from making similar comments again. Mr Wertheim told the Federal Court on Tuesday the speeches used "overtly dehumanising" language. "Making derogatory generalisations, calling Jews a vile and treacherous people, calling them rats and cowards ... are things which I think would be experienced by most Jews as dehumanising," he said. His barrister Peter Braham SC told the court the speeches drew on a large range of offensive tropes and were designed to threaten, humiliate and denigrate all Jewish people. The court was told Mr Haddad, who is also known as Abu Ousayd, addressed a camera and engaged with media coverage of his commentary. But his barrister Andrew Boe argued the preacher's speeches were intended for a private Muslim audience of 40 people and he was not responsible for publishing them online. He said it was unlikely any Jewish people would have come across the speeches if they had not received coverage by media organisations. "It would be analogous to a person of a prudish sensitivity seeking out pornography on the web and then complaining about being offended by it," Mr Boe said. Mr Haddad denies breaching anti-discrimination laws and claims he was delivering historical and religious lectures on historical events from the Koran and the war in Gaza. The speeches occurred in the context of a vigorous political debate characterised by an intensity of feeling on both sides and set against the background of a long religious history, Mr Boe said. He advocated for the preservation of free speech and argued the boundaries of debate couldn't be set so narrow as to exclude views which were not polite, bland or balanced. Mr Wertheim said being exposed to challenging ideas in robust conversations did not insult him "as long as they don't cross the boundary into vilification". His lawyer told the court that the Jewish community lived with "a communal memory of past persecution and which remains conscious of threats to its safety by reason of race". The hearing continues. Lifeline 13 11 14 beyondblue 1300 22 4636 An Islamist preacher's speeches that allegedly painted Jewish people as "vile and treacherous" were not racist but formed part of a robust discussion, his lawyer has argued. Sydney-based Al Madina Dawah Centre cleric Wissam Haddad has been accused of racial discrimination after a series of fiery sermons from November 2023, which have racked up thousands of views online. In one of his speeches, he appears to blame the roots of "the enmity that we see today" on "none other than the Jews ... because their forefathers had shown the same enmity to the Prophet (Mohammed)." Mr Haddad is being sued by Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-chief executive Peter Wertheim and deputy president Robert Goot, who are seeking the removal of the allegedly racist speeches. They also want Mr Haddad to be barred from making similar comments again. Mr Wertheim told the Federal Court on Tuesday the speeches used "overtly dehumanising" language. "Making derogatory generalisations, calling Jews a vile and treacherous people, calling them rats and cowards ... are things which I think would be experienced by most Jews as dehumanising," he said. His barrister Peter Braham SC told the court the speeches drew on a large range of offensive tropes and were designed to threaten, humiliate and denigrate all Jewish people. The court was told Mr Haddad, who is also known as Abu Ousayd, addressed a camera and engaged with media coverage of his commentary. But his barrister Andrew Boe argued the preacher's speeches were intended for a private Muslim audience of 40 people and he was not responsible for publishing them online. He said it was unlikely any Jewish people would have come across the speeches if they had not received coverage by media organisations. "It would be analogous to a person of a prudish sensitivity seeking out pornography on the web and then complaining about being offended by it," Mr Boe said. Mr Haddad denies breaching anti-discrimination laws and claims he was delivering historical and religious lectures on historical events from the Koran and the war in Gaza. The speeches occurred in the context of a vigorous political debate characterised by an intensity of feeling on both sides and set against the background of a long religious history, Mr Boe said. He advocated for the preservation of free speech and argued the boundaries of debate couldn't be set so narrow as to exclude views which were not polite, bland or balanced. Mr Wertheim said being exposed to challenging ideas in robust conversations did not insult him "as long as they don't cross the boundary into vilification". His lawyer told the court that the Jewish community lived with "a communal memory of past persecution and which remains conscious of threats to its safety by reason of race". The hearing continues. Lifeline 13 11 14 beyondblue 1300 22 4636 An Islamist preacher's speeches that allegedly painted Jewish people as "vile and treacherous" were not racist but formed part of a robust discussion, his lawyer has argued. Sydney-based Al Madina Dawah Centre cleric Wissam Haddad has been accused of racial discrimination after a series of fiery sermons from November 2023, which have racked up thousands of views online. In one of his speeches, he appears to blame the roots of "the enmity that we see today" on "none other than the Jews ... because their forefathers had shown the same enmity to the Prophet (Mohammed)." Mr Haddad is being sued by Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-chief executive Peter Wertheim and deputy president Robert Goot, who are seeking the removal of the allegedly racist speeches. They also want Mr Haddad to be barred from making similar comments again. Mr Wertheim told the Federal Court on Tuesday the speeches used "overtly dehumanising" language. "Making derogatory generalisations, calling Jews a vile and treacherous people, calling them rats and cowards ... are things which I think would be experienced by most Jews as dehumanising," he said. His barrister Peter Braham SC told the court the speeches drew on a large range of offensive tropes and were designed to threaten, humiliate and denigrate all Jewish people. The court was told Mr Haddad, who is also known as Abu Ousayd, addressed a camera and engaged with media coverage of his commentary. But his barrister Andrew Boe argued the preacher's speeches were intended for a private Muslim audience of 40 people and he was not responsible for publishing them online. He said it was unlikely any Jewish people would have come across the speeches if they had not received coverage by media organisations. "It would be analogous to a person of a prudish sensitivity seeking out pornography on the web and then complaining about being offended by it," Mr Boe said. Mr Haddad denies breaching anti-discrimination laws and claims he was delivering historical and religious lectures on historical events from the Koran and the war in Gaza. The speeches occurred in the context of a vigorous political debate characterised by an intensity of feeling on both sides and set against the background of a long religious history, Mr Boe said. He advocated for the preservation of free speech and argued the boundaries of debate couldn't be set so narrow as to exclude views which were not polite, bland or balanced. Mr Wertheim said being exposed to challenging ideas in robust conversations did not insult him "as long as they don't cross the boundary into vilification". His lawyer told the court that the Jewish community lived with "a communal memory of past persecution and which remains conscious of threats to its safety by reason of race". The hearing continues. Lifeline 13 11 14 beyondblue 1300 22 4636 An Islamist preacher's speeches that allegedly painted Jewish people as "vile and treacherous" were not racist but formed part of a robust discussion, his lawyer has argued. Sydney-based Al Madina Dawah Centre cleric Wissam Haddad has been accused of racial discrimination after a series of fiery sermons from November 2023, which have racked up thousands of views online. In one of his speeches, he appears to blame the roots of "the enmity that we see today" on "none other than the Jews ... because their forefathers had shown the same enmity to the Prophet (Mohammed)." Mr Haddad is being sued by Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-chief executive Peter Wertheim and deputy president Robert Goot, who are seeking the removal of the allegedly racist speeches. They also want Mr Haddad to be barred from making similar comments again. Mr Wertheim told the Federal Court on Tuesday the speeches used "overtly dehumanising" language. "Making derogatory generalisations, calling Jews a vile and treacherous people, calling them rats and cowards ... are things which I think would be experienced by most Jews as dehumanising," he said. His barrister Peter Braham SC told the court the speeches drew on a large range of offensive tropes and were designed to threaten, humiliate and denigrate all Jewish people. The court was told Mr Haddad, who is also known as Abu Ousayd, addressed a camera and engaged with media coverage of his commentary. But his barrister Andrew Boe argued the preacher's speeches were intended for a private Muslim audience of 40 people and he was not responsible for publishing them online. He said it was unlikely any Jewish people would have come across the speeches if they had not received coverage by media organisations. "It would be analogous to a person of a prudish sensitivity seeking out pornography on the web and then complaining about being offended by it," Mr Boe said. Mr Haddad denies breaching anti-discrimination laws and claims he was delivering historical and religious lectures on historical events from the Koran and the war in Gaza. The speeches occurred in the context of a vigorous political debate characterised by an intensity of feeling on both sides and set against the background of a long religious history, Mr Boe said. He advocated for the preservation of free speech and argued the boundaries of debate couldn't be set so narrow as to exclude views which were not polite, bland or balanced. Mr Wertheim said being exposed to challenging ideas in robust conversations did not insult him "as long as they don't cross the boundary into vilification". His lawyer told the court that the Jewish community lived with "a communal memory of past persecution and which remains conscious of threats to its safety by reason of race". The hearing continues. Lifeline 13 11 14 beyondblue 1300 22 4636
West Australian
7 hours ago
- Politics
- West Australian
Muslim preacher defends 'dehumanising' sermons on Jews
An Islamist preacher's speeches that allegedly painted Jewish people as "vile and treacherous" were not racist but formed part of a robust discussion, his lawyer has argued. Sydney-based Al Madina Dawah Centre cleric Wissam Haddad has been accused of racial discrimination after a series of fiery sermons from November 2023, which have racked up thousands of views online. In one of his speeches, he appears to blame the roots of "the enmity that we see today" on "none other than the Jews ... because their forefathers had shown the same enmity to the Prophet (Mohammed)." Mr Haddad is being sued by Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-chief executive Peter Wertheim and deputy president Robert Goot, who are seeking the removal of the allegedly racist speeches. They also want Mr Haddad to be barred from making similar comments again. Mr Wertheim told the Federal Court on Tuesday the speeches used "overtly dehumanising" language. "Making derogatory generalisations, calling Jews a vile and treacherous people, calling them rats and cowards ... are things which I think would be experienced by most Jews as dehumanising," he said. His barrister Peter Braham SC told the court the speeches drew on a large range of offensive tropes and were designed to threaten, humiliate and denigrate all Jewish people. The court was told Mr Haddad, who is also known as Abu Ousayd, addressed a camera and engaged with media coverage of his commentary. But his barrister Andrew Boe argued the preacher's speeches were intended for a private Muslim audience of 40 people and he was not responsible for publishing them online. He said it was unlikely any Jewish people would have come across the speeches if they had not received coverage by media organisations. "It would be analogous to a person of a prudish sensitivity seeking out pornography on the web and then complaining about being offended by it," Mr Boe said. Mr Haddad denies breaching anti-discrimination laws and claims he was delivering historical and religious lectures on historical events from the Koran and the war in Gaza. The speeches occurred in the context of a vigorous political debate characterised by an intensity of feeling on both sides and set against the background of a long religious history, Mr Boe said. He advocated for the preservation of free speech and argued the boundaries of debate couldn't be set so narrow as to exclude views which were not polite, bland or balanced. Mr Wertheim said being exposed to challenging ideas in robust conversations did not insult him "as long as they don't cross the boundary into vilification". His lawyer told the court that the Jewish community lived with "a communal memory of past persecution and which remains conscious of threats to its safety by reason of race". The hearing continues. Lifeline 13 11 14 beyondblue 1300 22 4636
Perth Now
7 hours ago
- Politics
- Perth Now
Muslim preacher defends 'dehumanising' sermons on Jews
An Islamist preacher's speeches that allegedly painted Jewish people as "vile and treacherous" were not racist but formed part of a robust discussion, his lawyer has argued. Sydney-based Al Madina Dawah Centre cleric Wissam Haddad has been accused of racial discrimination after a series of fiery sermons from November 2023, which have racked up thousands of views online. In one of his speeches, he appears to blame the roots of "the enmity that we see today" on "none other than the Jews ... because their forefathers had shown the same enmity to the Prophet (Mohammed)." Mr Haddad is being sued by Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-chief executive Peter Wertheim and deputy president Robert Goot, who are seeking the removal of the allegedly racist speeches. They also want Mr Haddad to be barred from making similar comments again. Mr Wertheim told the Federal Court on Tuesday the speeches used "overtly dehumanising" language. "Making derogatory generalisations, calling Jews a vile and treacherous people, calling them rats and cowards ... are things which I think would be experienced by most Jews as dehumanising," he said. His barrister Peter Braham SC told the court the speeches drew on a large range of offensive tropes and were designed to threaten, humiliate and denigrate all Jewish people. The court was told Mr Haddad, who is also known as Abu Ousayd, addressed a camera and engaged with media coverage of his commentary. But his barrister Andrew Boe argued the preacher's speeches were intended for a private Muslim audience of 40 people and he was not responsible for publishing them online. He said it was unlikely any Jewish people would have come across the speeches if they had not received coverage by media organisations. "It would be analogous to a person of a prudish sensitivity seeking out pornography on the web and then complaining about being offended by it," Mr Boe said. Mr Haddad denies breaching anti-discrimination laws and claims he was delivering historical and religious lectures on historical events from the Koran and the war in Gaza. The speeches occurred in the context of a vigorous political debate characterised by an intensity of feeling on both sides and set against the background of a long religious history, Mr Boe said. He advocated for the preservation of free speech and argued the boundaries of debate couldn't be set so narrow as to exclude views which were not polite, bland or balanced. Mr Wertheim said being exposed to challenging ideas in robust conversations did not insult him "as long as they don't cross the boundary into vilification". His lawyer told the court that the Jewish community lived with "a communal memory of past persecution and which remains conscious of threats to its safety by reason of race". The hearing continues. Lifeline 13 11 14 beyondblue 1300 22 4636
Daily Mail
10 hours ago
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Jihadi preacher Wissam Haddad issues 'chilling' warning ahead of court battle over controversial sermons
Islamic preacher Wissam Haddad has shared an ominous warning to his followers as his legal battle with Australia's biggest Jewish body gets under way. The Executive Council of Australian Jewry is suing Haddad in the Federal Court over his sermons at Al Madina Dawah Centre in Bankstown, western Sydney, which they allege breached the Racial Discrimination Act. In the wake of the October 7, 2023 attacks on Israel, Haddad allegedly said in his sermons that Jews were 'cowards, filthy, liars and schemers'. The case also claims he labelled Jewish people 'descendants of pigs and monkeys' and urged his followers to 'spit' on Israel. Haddad will argue that his statements were taken from religious texts like the Quran and were not likely to offend. He also contends that his sermons were performed in private and published online without his permission. The preacher, who is also known as Abu Ousayd, appeared in the Federal Court in Sydney on Tuesday to defend the lawsuit - and in the lead-up to the case, he shared a defiant message on social media. 'They are the one dragging us to court, so we're not going to come unarmed,' he said in the message. 'We're going to fight them with everything that we have,' he added, before an image of a sword appeared in the video. '...Isn't it about time that somebody fights back? Isn't it about time that somebody stands up to these bullies? 'And this is, Alhamdulillah, something I am personally willing to do.' Haddad also appealed to his followers for help with his legal costs in fighting the lawsuit, posting a link to a GoFundMe page which had raised almost $20,000 toward a $25,000 target on Tuesday. 'We are at a crossroads that will determine the future of Islamic expression in Australia,' the page said. '...a landmark legal case will be heard - one that could criminalise the public teaching or mention of certain Qur'anic verses and Hadiths if someone deems them 'offensive.' 'This case has far-reaching implications - not just for one individual or organisation, but for every imam, scholar, community leader, and Muslim in the country.' Haddad's use of a sword in his social media warning was encouraging his followers to join a 'physical' battle, a Jewish community source told The Australian. 'He's positioning it as an act of Islamic duty, a religious war between Muslims and Jews, which makes it even more alarming and chilling,' the source said. 'He doesn't have mainstream support in his own community, but it has the potential to incite young radicals to commit violence. It's extremely dangerous.' Sheik Ahmad Musa Jibril, a US-based radical Islamist who previously called on young people to join ISIS, has asked his followers to support Haddad's legal defence and claimed he is 'one of the most targeted men in Australia by the disbelievers'.
The Guardian
a day ago
- Politics
- The Guardian
Sydney cleric being sued for alleged antisemitism says case is an existential battle ‘between Islam and unbelievers'
A Sydney Islamic cleric being sued in the federal court for alleged racial discrimination of Jewish people has described his case as an existential battle 'between Islam and unbelievers'. Wissam Haddad, also known as Abu Ousayd, is being sued by Australia's peak Jewish body over a series of lectures he gave in November 2023, in which he is alleged to have maligned Jewish people as 'vile', 'treacherous' and cowardly. The lectures quoted ayat and hadith from the Qur'an about Jews in Medina in the 7th century and, the federal court claim alleges, made derogatory generalisations about Jewish people, including that they are 'wicked and scheming' and 'love wealth'. The claim, brought by the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, alleges Haddad breached section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act – prohibiting offensive behaviour based on race or ethnic origin – during the sermons delivered at the Al Madina Dawah Centre (AMDC) in Bankstown in November 2023, speeches subsequently broadcast online. But, Haddad's defence case argues, his sermons were delivered in 'good faith' as religious and historical instruction. If his sermons are found to breach 18C, then, he argues, the law is unconstitutional because it restricts the free exercise of religion. On Tuesday morning, the long-running dispute, which failed to find resolution at conciliation, comes before Justice Angus Stewart in the federal court, in a case set to test the limits of religious expression and hate speech under Australian law. The court is likely to be asked to adjudicate whether Haddad's sermons, in which he quotes the Qur'an and offers interpretation of it, amount to incitement or are protected religious expression. Ahead of the trial, Haddad, argued on Instagram that the case was existential for the practice of Islam in Australia. 'What I am currently facing in the federal court is not an issue of Abu Ousayd or Al Madina Dawah Centre versus the Jewish lobby … rather, it's a battle between Islam and kuffar,' he said, using an Arabic word, usually translated as 'unbelievers'. He said the claim against him sought to criminalise Islamic scripture. 'They wish to take and make those ayat and hadith and historic accounts that speak about the Jews: to what they see as insulting, they seek to make it criminal.' Ayat are verses in the Qur'an, the Islamic holy book, while hadith are reports attributed to the Prophet Muhammad. Sign up for Guardian Australia's breaking news email Two prominent members of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, Peter Wertheim and Robert Goot, have sought an injunction from the court ordering the speeches still online be removed, and banning Haddad and his centre from publishing similar content online in the future. The ECAJ claim has also asked the court to order Haddad's centre to publish a 'corrective notice' on its social media pages. It has applied for the cost of its legal action to be covered, but it has not sought damages or compensation. In a statement, Wertheim said the ECAJ had attempted 'in good faith' to resolve the matter by conciliation through the Australian Human Rights Commission, but that attempts to broker a resolution failed. He said the ECAJ took the matter to court 'to defend the honour of our community, and as a warning to deter others seeking to mobilise racism in order to promote their political views'. Sign up to Breaking News Australia Get the most important news as it breaks after newsletter promotion 'We are all free to observe our faith and traditions within the bounds of Australian law, and that should mean we do not bring the hatreds, prejudices and bigotry of overseas conflicts and societies into Australia.' In his defence documents, Haddad argues his lectures 'were not reasonably likely to offend, insult, humiliate or intimidate Jewish people in Australia' given their context and audience. He said his sermons were delivered in 'good faith' and 'for the genuine purpose of … delivering religious historical and educational lectures … to congregants of the AMDC'. He said he had given some of the addresses in response to requests from the Islamic community 'to provide sermons which address the Gaza War, and engaging in political commentary on the Gaza War from a religious perspective'. However, his defence states, if the court finds his sermons have breached section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act, he argues the law is unconstitutional under section 116 of the constitution, which protects the 'free exercise of any religion'. Both Haddad and the ECAJ will rely on lay witnesses and expert testimony in the week-long court case. The ECAJ has enlisted professor of theology at Notre Dame University, Gabriel Reynolds; Haddad will call Sheikh Adel Ibrahim from the Greenacre Prayers Hall in Sydney to give evidence. Haddad has never been charged with any terrorism-related offences, but has previously boasted of his friendship with Australian Islamic State fighters Khaled Sharrouf and Mohamed Elomar, and Briton Anjem Choudary, an extremist preacher jailed for life in the UK last year. A former Asio spy who infiltrated Haddad's organisation between 2016 and 2023 told the ABC's Four Corners program that young people in Haddad's prayer centre were being indoctrinated into supporting Islamic State. Section 18C is the most contested and controversial section of the Racial Discrimination Act. Several high-profile cases have seen it argued the section restricts freedom of speech and political communication in Australia.
