Jewish body sues western Sydney preacher over allegedly anti-Semitic sermons
Australia’s top Jewish body has launched legal action against an Islamic preacher from Western Sydney, alleging he gave anti-Semitic sermons including one in which he called Jews a ‘vile people’.
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Australia’s top Jewish body has launched legal action against an Islamic preacher from western Sydney, alleging he gave anti-Semitic sermons including one in which he called Jews a “vile people”.
The Executive Council of Australian Jewry announced on Monday it had started the Federal Court proceedings against Wissam Haddad and his Bankstown religious centre Al Madina Dawah Centre.
ECAJ alleges in court documents that Mr Haddad called Jews a “vile” and “treacherous” people and claimed that their “hands are in everywhere, in business … in the media” during speeches at his centre that were also uploaded online last year.
According to the documents filed in the civil action, ECAJ wants a declaration that Mr Haddad contravened 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.
The move comes after police recently charged successful Sydney restaurateur Alan Yazbak, who worked at Surry Hills’ Nomad, with flying a swastika emblazoned on an Israeli flag during a pro-Palestine rally.
Yazbak pleaded guilty to displaying a Nazi symbol.
The legal action against Mr Haddad will also determine how, or if, hate speech can be successfully pursued in Australian courts.
ECAJ co-chief executive Peter Wertheim said his organisation had launched the legal action after attempts at mediation broke down.
“As is required by law, we attempted in good faith to resolve this matter by conciliation through the Australian Human Rights Commission, but a conciliated resolution could not be achieved,” Mr Wertheim said.
“Accordingly, we have commenced proceedings in the Federal Court to defend the honour of our community and as a warning to deter others seeking to mobilise racism in order to promote their political views.
“Australia has long enjoyed a reputation as a multicultural success story where people of many different faiths and ethnic backgrounds have for the most part lived in harmony and mutual respect.
“We are all free to observe our faith and traditions within the bounds of Australian law, and that should mean we do not bring the hatreds, prejudices and bigotry of overseas conflicts and societies into Australia.”
Mr Wertheim said 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.
“However, in the circumstances we feel we have no alternative.”
There has been heightened tensions between Sydney’s Jewish and Middle Eastern communities in the last 12 months, especially after the October 7 attacks on Israel last year.
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Originally published as Jewish body sues western Sydney preacher over allegedly anti-Semitic sermons
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