NSW government grants $33k to Sydney’s Arrahman Benevolent Society which has Hezbollah ties

Taxpayers have funded tens of thousands in grants for a Sydney Islamic group with Hezbollah ties, whose co-director Youssef Nabha has vowed the downfall of Israel.

EXCLUSIVE: Tens of thousands of taxpayer dollars have been thrown at a Sydney Islamic group with Hezbollah ties and whose leader publicly vowed the annihilation of Israel.

This masthead can reveal that the NSW government granted the Arrahman Benevolent Society $33,000 in social cohesion and security payments.

One of the grants came eights months after the society’s Masjid Arrahman mosque, in the Sydney suburb of Kingsgrove, held a commemoration ceremony for three killed Hezbollah fighters – 21 years after Australia listed Hezbollah’s military wing as a terrorist organisation.

That $8000, approved by Premier Chris Minns in June last year, was to “promote community participation, inclusion and cohesion” and “deliver positive social” outcomes.

Another $25,000, approved by NSW Special Minister of State John Graham, was to “upgrade [its] security system”.

The Arrahman Benevolent Society was founded as part of a global network led by US-sanctioned “leading ideological figure” of Hezbollah, Muhammad Husayn Fadlallah.

Youssef Nabha inside the Masjid Arrahman mosque in Kingsgrove. Picture: AAP

Its Sydney-based cleric and co-director Youssef Nabha has vowed the downfall of Israel, quoting Iranian revolutionary Ruhollah Khomeini when he said, “if each Muslim poured a bucket of water, Israel would drown.”

“After this war, whether it brings immediate victory or prepares for the final one, Israel’s aura of invincibility has already fallen”, Mr Nabha said in September last year.

“Never before has it felt such fear and terror.”

“ … The enemy clings desperately to life. Each of them wishes to live a thousand years. They hide in shelters, terrified by a single missile, while believers stand firm and fearless, seeking the hereafter, not the world.”

The Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission had previously revoked its registration.

Mourners gather at Al Rahman mosque in Kingsgrove after the death of Hezbollah leader. Photo Jeremy Piper

Three months after Premier Minns’ grant, Masjid Arrahman eulogised “righteous martyr” and “master of resistance” Hezbollah commander Hassan Nasrallah in a three-day vigil.

The revelations come a week after this masthead reported a cleric brought in to advise the Minns government on Jewish community safety preached to bring down federal Labor and open the gates for Hamas and Hezbollah to potentially recruit, train and bankroll their operations from our suburbs.

Masjid Arrahman cleric Mr Nabha has twice hosted Iranian ambassadors, most recently in 2020 to relay his condolences for the “martyrdom” of Islamic Revolutionary Guard major general Qassem Soleimani.

In March 2021, now-Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke joined Mr Nabha for lunch where Masjid Arrahman said “they addressed issues in the Australian arena, especially the Covid-19 vaccine”.

Another $25,000, approved by NSW Special Minister of State John Graham approved a $25,000 grant for Arrahman Benevolent Society to “upgrade [its] security system”. Picture: NewsWire / Nikki Short

A year after that, in 2022, the Morrison government’s Department of Social Services delivered it a $5000 grant to help it “support and increase participation in volunteering”.

The Albanese Government expelled Iran’s ambassador to Australia in Augustand committed to listing the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organisation.

ASIO’s director-general declared that the Iranian regime sponsored at least two antisemitic arson attacks in Australia last year, against the Lewis’ Continental Kitchen attack in October and the Adass Israel Synagogue in December.

The state government would not comment on its grants to the Arrahman Benevolent Society, instead saying there was “no place in New South Wales for antisemitism, racism, or any form of hate”.

As for the broader grants programs, a spokesperson said: “The thousands of projects funded through these programs are put forward by local MPs and candidates, as is standard practice.”

Mr Nabha, Masjid Arrahman and Arrahman Benevolent Society did not comment by the time of publishing.

Originally published as NSW government grants $33k to Sydney’s Arrahman Benevolent Society which has Hezbollah ties