Latest news with #ExecutiveCouncilofAustralianJewry
The Advertiser
4 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
5 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
5 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
The Age
6 hours ago
- Politics
- The Age
Islamic preacher ‘dehumanised' and ‘humiliated' Jewish community, court told
A series of speeches given by a controversial Islamic preacher in the wake of the October 7 attacks was intended to insult, humiliate, intimidate and offend Jews and dehumanised members of the Jewish community, the Federal Court has heard. Islamic preacher Wissam Haddad, who refers to himself as Abu Ousayd on his social media accounts, is being sued over comments he made during five speeches that were delivered at the Al Madina Dawah Centre in Bankstown in late 2023 and subsequently published on social media. The Executive Council of Australian Jewry's co-chief executive, Peter Wertheim, and its deputy president, Robert Goot, launched the legal action in October last year, claiming Haddad's speeches, in which he called Jews a 'vile' and 'treacherous' people and referred to them as 'apes' and 'pigs', breached the Racial Discrimination Act and were antisemitic. Wertheim and Groot have asked the Federal Court for an injunction banning Haddad and his centre from publishing similar content online in the future, and for the court to order the publication of a 'corrective notice' on the centre's social media pages. The pair filed a complaint with the Human Rights Commission in March 2024, but had taken legal action after mediation was unsuccessful. They have applied for the cost of their legal action to be covered, but have not sought any damages. In his opening submissions, Peter Braham, SC, acting for Wertheim and Goot, said Haddad's speeches meant to intimidate Jewish people. 'It's threatening, it's humiliating, and it's offensive,' Braham said. In his defence, Haddad said the speeches were not directed at, and did not refer to Australian Jewish people, and were derived, in substance, from the Qur'an. Haddad's barrister, Andrew Boe, argued that the speeches were given to a private audience at the Al Madina Dawah Centre and intended to be viewed only by members of the Muslim community, and therefore did not amount to a breach of the Racial Discrimination Act.
Sydney Morning Herald
6 hours ago
- Politics
- Sydney Morning Herald
Islamic preacher ‘dehumanised' and ‘humiliated' Jewish community, court told
A series of speeches given by a controversial Islamic preacher in the wake of the October 7 attacks was intended to insult, humiliate, intimidate and offend Jews and dehumanised members of the Jewish community, the Federal Court has heard. Islamic preacher Wissam Haddad, who refers to himself as Abu Ousayd on his social media accounts, is being sued over comments he made during five speeches that were delivered at the Al Madina Dawah Centre in Bankstown in late 2023 and subsequently published on social media. The Executive Council of Australian Jewry's co-chief executive, Peter Wertheim, and its deputy president, Robert Goot, launched the legal action in October last year, claiming Haddad's speeches, in which he called Jews a 'vile' and 'treacherous' people and referred to them as 'apes' and 'pigs', breached the Racial Discrimination Act and were antisemitic. Wertheim and Groot have asked the Federal Court for an injunction banning Haddad and his centre from publishing similar content online in the future, and for the court to order the publication of a 'corrective notice' on the centre's social media pages. The pair filed a complaint with the Human Rights Commission in March 2024, but had taken legal action after mediation was unsuccessful. They have applied for the cost of their legal action to be covered, but have not sought any damages. In his opening submissions, Peter Braham, SC, acting for Wertheim and Goot, said Haddad's speeches meant to intimidate Jewish people. 'It's threatening, it's humiliating, and it's offensive,' Braham said. In his defence, Haddad said the speeches were not directed at, and did not refer to Australian Jewish people, and were derived, in substance, from the Qur'an. Haddad's barrister, Andrew Boe, argued that the speeches were given to a private audience at the Al Madina Dawah Centre and intended to be viewed only by members of the Muslim community, and therefore did not amount to a breach of the Racial Discrimination Act.
