NSW Premier Chris Minns has hit out at “troll-like” protesters, linking demonstrations with violence and disharmony as a council in Sydney’s south-west moves to shut down so-called “factory of hate” run by radical preacher Wissam Haddad.
The City of Canterbury-Bankstown announced on Tuesday it had moved to shutter the Al Madina Dawah Centre run by Haddad, who earlier this year was found to have breached the Racial Discrimination Act over comments about Jews.
The move came as NSW continues to crack down on hate in the wake of the horrific Bondi Beach terrorist attack, with a suite of reform aimed at stamping out hate, including the toughest gun laws in the country and laws banning protests during a terrorist designation expected to pass the Upper House late Tuesday. Other legislation including banning the chant “globalise the intifada” is before a committee.
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“It will be a clear message and clear progress to keep the people of New South Wales safe,” he said.
“Whether that’s on gun regulation in New South Wales or secondly, on protests in order — changes to protests in order to lower the temperature in Sydney, and a bit of acknowledgement that in some cases, words lead to actions.”
Mr Minns said he was confident the laws would stand up to constitutional challenge.
“We are alive to the threat from the High Court and a reversal of these changes,” he said. “And in some cases, that’s tempered us in terms of rushing into bills. In other case, we don’t think that we can wait. But we’re all confident that they’re sound constitutionally. “
The Premier lashed activists for their “troll-like response” to the new legislation, and called out a pro-Palestine rally in Sydney on Monday, saying organisers claimed the protest would be a “peaceful vigil” to honour the lives lost during the Bondi terror attack, but instead “we’re treated to calls or chants of globalise the intifada”.
“It’s almost like troll-like response. Like it’s a big game,” Mr Minns said.
“I don’t think it’s a big game. I think that the consequences here are serious. They’re massive. The implications for families and communities are huge.
“I do think that it leads to violence in our community. I think that it leads to disharmony.
“A big part of that group’s message to the people of New South Wales is that you can trust them — yes, there might be some fringe elements but you can trust them.
“We were repeatedly assured that yesterday’s protest was going to be a peaceful vigil for the lives that were lost last Sunday. Instead, we’re treated to calls or chants of “globalise the intifada”. That tells you everything that you need to know about what it can mean if don’t have bright red lines in relation to protests … in the context of a terrorism event.”
A prayer hall where controversial Islamic preacher Wissam Haddad held sermons has been shut down. Credit: AAP
The Canterbury-Bankstown council on Tuesday said it issued a “cease use” directive on Haddad over the Al Madina Dawah Centre late on Monday following surveillance of an allegedly “illegal prayer hall”.
It is understood 24-year-old Naveed Akram, who is charged over the alleged terror attack that killed 15 people at Bondi Beach, was said to be a frequent visitor to the centre.
In a statement, the council said a review of records dating back to 1970 revealed it had never had approval to operate as a prayer hall and was only recently being approved to operate as a medical centre.
A council spokesman said the change of use from a medical centre to a prayer hall or place of worship required development consent, which had not been sought and was therefore unauthorised.
“Our recent surveillance indicates there is a strong suspicion the premises is being used contrary to its intended use,” the spokesman said.
“We have issued the cease use notices which will be effective immediately.
“There are no compromises, and we will be taking further action if they don’t comply.”
The order was not the first time Mr Haddad had been ordered to shut down a premises due to it being unauthorised to conduct prayer meetings.
On December 18, 2023, the council issued a separate cease use directive for using premises on Eldon St in Georges Hall, which only had approval to operate as a gym.
The council moved to close the Al Madina Dawah Centre in Bankstown. Credit: Nikki Short/NewsWire
The council said Mr Haddad had continued to operate the site and was issued another notice and ultimately it was shut down.
A spokesman said council had investigated claims in May Mr Haddad had been preaching from the Al Madina Dawah Centre, and carried out surveillance.
“Despite no complaints from nearby residents, we continued to conduct ongoing surveillance of the premises, and we now have the photographic evidence to suspect the centre is being used contrary to what it has been approved for,” they said.
“Council needs to make it clear that we have no control over what is preached inside these ‘illegal’ prayer halls and our role is to ensure the premises are used in accordance with their authorised use.
“We will continue to monitor the centre and will be taking further action if necessary.”
The council was working with Bankstown Police and the NSW Government, who they said had offered support and assistance in shutting down like premises. Non-compliance could result in a penalty infringement notice of $3000 for an individual or $6000.
The Premier also supported the actions of council and praised mayor Bilal el-Hayek.
“There is no place for hate speech in NSW which is why we are supporting all action to clamp down on those inciting hate, and we will not stop,” Mr Minns said. “We are ready to make significant changes to prevent hate preachers or anyone else inciting violence in our communities.”
He confirmed council had been in conversation with the Department of Planning, the Premier’s department, and NSW Police.
“This is a kind of leadership that we need right now,” he said.
“Bilal has led that community through a number of years, he’s obviously decided this can’t go on.
“It’s not being used for the purposes in which the permit had been released.
“You can expect more of this, not less of it, in the weeks to come.”
Mr Haddad made headlines earlier this year when a court ordered he remove a series of lectures found to contain “fundamentally racist and anti-Semitic” material.
The material was found to have breached the Racial Discrimination Act in action launched by Executive Council of Australian Jewry.
In his judgment, Justice Angus Stewart said the speeches carried imputations Jewish people were “very mischievous”, that Jewish people “control the media”, and that “their supporters are murdering cowards”, among other serious, anti-Semitic claims.
At the time, Mr Haddad’s lawyer claimed the speeches were derived in substance from religious texts, including the Koran, and did not refer to Australian Jewish people.
The preacher, who adheres to a puritanical version of Islam known as Salafism, and has been linked to known terrorists including slain IS fighters Khaled Sharrouf and Mohamed Elomar has never faced serious criminal sanction.
A Four Corners investigation earlier this year alleged Mr Haddad was at the centre of Australia’s IS network.
Following the Bondi terror attacks, Mr Haddad released a statement in which he denied the ABC’s claim and said there was “no verified photograph” which exists of Mr Haddad and alleged Bondi shooter Naveed Akram.
Earlier this year, a charity belonging to Mr Haddad — also known as Abu Ousayad — had its charity status revoked.
Mr Haddad earlier denied through a lawyer to media outlets “any knowledge of or involvement in the shootings that took place at Bondi Beach”.
There is no suggestion he had knowledge of or was involved in the attack.
A lawyer who represented Mr Haddad has been contacted for comment.
