Imam’s anti-Semitic sermon at Masjid As-Sunnah mosque in Lakemba

An imam has delivered a sermon at a Sydney mosque in which he described Jews as a ‘criminal, barbaric, tyrannical enemy’ and demanded Palestine be restored ‘through Jihad’. WATCH THE VIDEO.

An American think-tank that monitors Muslim extremists has unearthed a February sermon at a Lakemba mosque in which an imam called Jews a “criminal, barbaric, tyrannical enemy” and demanded Palestine be restored “through Jihad for the sake of Allah”.

Telling his congregation in southwest Sydney that Jews had “trespassed on the land of (other) people and oppressed them”, imam Abdul Salam Zoud said: “These people only understand the language of force.”

He also said “all the billions that were spent to improve, beautify, and highlight the image of the Jews have all gone in vain”.

The sermon, which was delivered last month at the Masjid As-Sunnah mosque in Lakemba and published on its Facebook page, has been translated by the Middle East Media and Research Institute (MEMRI) and uploaded to its website.

Since 1997 MEMRI has published English translations of Arabic material.

A screen shot from the video of the imam’s service at Masjid As-Sunnah mosque in Lakemba in February. Video: Middle East Media and Research Institute

In the sermon the imam also said that “Jihad for the sake of Allah is the only solution when it comes to the infidel” and — in English — “to liberate and retrieve Palestine”.

The content of the sermon has outraged MPs and Jewish leaders, who said it should not be tolerated.

Senator Dave Sharma says the imam’s sermon should be unlawful. Picture: Jonathan Ng

Liberal Senator Dave Sharma called the speech “disgusting” and “un-Australian”

“If it is not unlawful it should be,” he said.

“That crosses the line from free speech into inciting violence.”

Mr Sharma drew a contrast between the open displays of hatred with the recent case of Matildas captain Sam Kerr who is currently facing prosecution in the UK for allegedly calling a policeman a white bastard.

“This guy is citing violence against a whole group of people — Sam Kerr wasn’t doing that — but here police don’t seem to be interested,” he said.

David Ossip, President, NSW Jewish Board of Deputies, said: “If we are serious about maintaining the communal cohesion and harmony we all treasure, we surely cannot tolerate hate preachers poisoning the minds of their adherents by vilifying other Australians and calling for jihad.

“Such sermons are incredibly dangerous and are completely inconsistent with our Australian values.”

In December, another imam at the mosque was revealed to have said Jews were “terrorists” and “monsters” who have “removed mercy from their hearts”.

The imam also said that “an important characteristic of the Jews is that they are thirsty for bloodshed … another is betrayal and treachery.”

Got a news tip? Email [e-mail]

Originally published as Imam’s anti-Semitic sermon at Masjid As-Sunnah mosque in Lakemba