Reforms at Brisbane Muslim college end in fight, court case

Queensland’s most high-profile Muslim leader is defending an assault charge after a bitter fight over his attempts to drag an Islamic college into line with modern Australia, a court has heard.

Queensland’s most high-profile Muslim leader is defending a common assault charge after a boardroom showdown about his attempts to drag a Logan Islamic school into the modern era.

The stoush at Brisbane Islamic College last year allegedly saw a board member tell the new CEO to “get out of my way, motherf***er’’ and spit on his cheek, before the CEO pushed him.

Shadabhusain Mohsinhusain Kadri, known as Ali Kadri, was the youngest ever president of the Holland Park mosque and a well-known Islamic Council of Queensland spokesman when he took up the role as CEO at the college in the Logan suburb of Karawatha in August, 2020.

He told Richlands Magistrates Court on Wednesday that, after his appointment as college CEO, he wanted to “bring that 26-year-old institution into alignment with the society in which it exists’’.

Ali Kadri speaking at a press conference in 2020. Picture: Tara Croser

But the court heard fellow board member Junaid Ahmed Qaedri Syed was angry about the changes, as was his friend who served as the college’s P&F president.

Mr Syed called a board meeting on May 17 but did not invite Mr Kadri, who turned up anyway armed with a PowerPoint presentation.

Mr Syed told the court it was a “confidence building’’ meeting, but Mr Kadri maintained his position as CEO was to be debated.

After an argument outside the boardroom Mr Kadri was allowed to go ahead with his presentation.

But then a fight broke out and Mr Kadri had to intervene to protect Mr Syed from another man at the meeting, the court heard.

Ali Kadri leaves Richlands Magistrates Court on Wednesday.

Mr Syed then abruptly called off the meeting and left, with Mr Kadri following him into an underground carpark.

CCTV footage showed an agitated Mr Kadri walked in front of Mr Syed, before Mr Kadri could be seen pushing him backwards.

Mr Kadri then put his hands in his pockets and the pair appeared to talk as they walked towards Mr Syed’s car.

The CCTV then showed Mr Kadri, a much larger and younger man, standing in front of Mr Syed next to the car door.

Mr Syed opened the boot and got out what he said was a bottle of water, which he handed to Mr Kadri, before driving off.

Mr Syed said he felt intimidated and just before the push alleged Mr Kadri told him “you are a snake’’ and “we’ve been keeping you with us, our group (but) you have been slithering around us’’.

Mr Kadri denied ever saying that and instead told the court Mr Syed told him to “get out of my way motherf***er’’ before feeling spit on his cheek.

Both men vowed on a copy of the Koran to tell the court the truth.

Broncos players visiting the Islamic College of Brisbane in 2019. Picture: Peter Wallis

Mr Kadri told the court Mr Syed was very angry and made a sudden movement, so he pushed him.

When they got to the car he said Mr Syed apologised for spitting on him, claimed it was an accident and offered him water to wash the spittle off.

The next day the two men hugged and appeared friendly at a function to open a new building at the school.

At one point Mr Syed choked on his lunch and Mr Kadri, who has first aid training and was sitting next to him, offered help, the court heard.

Almost two weeks later Mr Syed laid a formal complaint at Calamvale police station.

He has since been removed from the college board.

Mr Kadri, under cross-examination from his barrister, John Fraser, said he followed Mr Syed because the meeting had ended abruptly without a date being set for a new meeting.

Mr Fraser said the push was obviously not an excessive use of force and there was an issue of provocation.

Richlands Magistrates Court. Picture: John Gass

He said his client willingly attended Calamvale police station after the complaint was laid.

He had made significant concessions in his evidence, including that the spit might have been accidental and where he was standing might have appeared as if he wanted to block Mr Syed from getting into his car.

Magistrate Aaron Simpson, who reserved his decision on the matter, said the “stakes were high’’ for Mr Kadri who stood to lose his job.

He understandably wanted to be at a meeting where his position would be discussed.

“This is about his career, this is about his appointment as CEO — there’s much more at stake for him,’’ he said.

Mr Simpson said he needed to review the CCTV, which clearly showed Mr Kadri putting his hands in his pockets after the push.

No date has been set for the decision.