Western Sydney preacher says Aus’s ‘Jewish lobby’ wants to ‘destroy’ Islam in new video ahead of court action

Ahead of court action against him for allegedly describing Jews as “vile”, Sydney preacher Wissam Haddad says it’s time “somebody fights back” and that “religious conflict” is currently gripping the city.

Preacher Wissam Haddad delivers a speech on video at his Bankstown centre on Friday in which he argues the “Jewish lobby” in Australia wants to “destroy” Islam.

A western Sydney preacher claims court action against him over allegedly anti-Semitic comments is about Australia’s “Jewish lobby” wanting to “destroy” Islam and says a “religious conflict” is currently gripping the city, arguing: “We may not be able to physically go and fight against the Israelis … but we can fight here with our wealth”.

Wissam Haddad, of the Bankstown religious centre Al Madina Dawah Centre, is being sued by the Executive Council of Australian Jewry (ECAJ) over comments in which he allegedly called Jews a “vile” and “treacherous” people.

Ahead of a hearing in the Federal Court next month, Mr Haddad addressed a crowd at the centre last Friday and mentioned the case, framing it as a concerted effort by the “Jewish lobby” that he claims wants to “destroy” Islam.

“Although there is a physical conflict taking place (overseas) … know that there is a religious conflict taking place here in Sydney,” he said in English in the speech that was recorded on video and obtained by The Daily Telegraph.

Mr Haddad also took aim at the ECAJ’s legal action, saying it was time somebody “fights back” and calling for donations to help fund his court fight given he had already spent $60,000 on legal fees and needed $100,000 more.

“They are the ones dragging us to court, so we’re not going to come unarmed – we’re going to fight them with everything that we have,” he said.

Mr Haddad is calling on his supports to donate money to help fund his legal fight against the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, which alleges he made anti-Semitic comments in 2023.

“Isn’t it about time that somebody fights back?

“Isn’t it about time that somebody stands up to these bullies … this is something that I’m personally willing to do, no matter what the cost is.”

He also added when speaking about legal fund donations: “We may not be able to physically go and fight … against the Israelis who are killing our brothers and sisters, but we can fight here with our wealth with our money against a lobby that is fighting your Islam, so brothers and sisters, whatever you can, donate today”.

Mr Haddad, who was born in Australia to Lebanese parents, also called out other Muslim leaders, encouraging them to stand up against Australian Jews.

“I’m giving them the opportunity for once in their lives to stick their head up proudly, openly and take on the Jewish lobby, who are trying to destroy Islam,” he said.

At one point he also referenced extremist group Islamic State too when talking about the Middle East, saying: “What were the Islamic State calling for? They were calling for the re-establishment of the sharia”.

Sharia means Islamic law.

The ECAJ has alleged in court documents that Mr Haddad has claimed Jews’ “hands are in everywhere, in business … in the media” during speeches at his centre that were also uploaded online in 2023.

According to the documents filed in the civil action, ECAJ wants a declaration that Mr Haddad broke section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act, orders requiring the speeches be taken down from online and also orders stopping him from publishing similar speeches in the future.

ECAJ co-chief executive Peter Wertheim said at the time of launching legal action last year that the Jewish community felt let down by government, which he said should try and uphold social harmony.

“Maintaining and strengthening social cohesion is the role of governments and government agencies, but lately they have failed us,” he said.

“It should not fall on our community, or any other community, to take private legal action to remedy a public wrong, and to stand up to those who sow hatred in our midst.”

Originally published as Western Sydney preacher says Aus’s ‘Jewish lobby’ wants to ‘destroy’ Islam in new video ahead of court action