Federal Court Orders Removal of Islamic Preacher Wissam Haddad's Lectures from Social Media

A series of lectures delivered by Islamic preacher Wissam Haddad at a Sydney prayer centre have been ordered to be removed from social media by a Federal Court judge. The judge found the speeches contained 'fundamentally racist and antisemitic' material. Haddad, also known as Abu Ousayd, gave the speeches at Bankstown's Al Madina Dawah Centre in November 2023. The Executive Council of Australian Jewry alleged that Haddad contravened the Racial Discrimination Act by portraying Jewish people in a negative light. The court found the speeches conveyed disparaging imputations about Jewish people that were likely to offend, insult, humiliate, and intimidate them in Australia.

Justice Angus Stewart ruled that the speeches contravened the Racial Discrimination Act and rejected Haddad's defenses. He stated that the effects on Jewish Australians would be profound and serious. The court also found critical and disparaging remarks about the actions of the Israel Defense Forces and Zionists in Haddad's speeches. However, the judge clarified that criticism of Israel or Zionism is not inherently antisemitic.

Justice Stewart ordered Haddad and the centre to publish corrective notices on their social media accounts for 30 days. The court found the Executive Council of Australian Jewry's case to be overwhelmingly successful and ruled that Haddad should pay costs. The speeches were labeled as 'dangerous' speech by the ECAJ's counsel, who argued that they aimed to denigrate all Jewish people.

According to the source: Australian Broadcasting Corporation.