Bombshell Shutdown: Council Moves to Axe Illegal Prayer Hall Linked to Notorious Anti-Semitic Preacher Wissam Haddad
- City of Canterbury Bankstown Council issues “cease use” directive on Al Madina Dawah Centre, citing illegal prayer meetings
- Wissam Haddad, found guilty of breaching Racial Discrimination Act, linked to prayer hall, despite claims he’s just a “guest speaker”
- Prayer hall was only approved as a medical centre, with council records showing no permission for religious use since the 1970s
In a dramatic crackdown, the City of Canterbury Bankstown Council has moved to shut down an illegal prayer hall linked to notorious Islamic preacher Wissam Haddad, who was found guilty of breaching the Racial Discrimination Act with his anti-Semitic lectures.
The Al Madina Dawah Centre in Bankstown, in Sydney’s south-west, has been operating as a prayer hall without approval, despite only being granted permission to operate as a medical centre. Council records dating back to the 1970s show the site on Kitchener Parade was never approved for religious use.
“Our recent surveillance indicates there is a strong suspicion the premises is being used contrary to its intended use,” a council spokesperson said. “We have issued the cease use notices which will be effective immediately. There are no compromises, and we will be taking further action if they don’t comply.”
Wissam Haddad, also known as Abu Ousayd, has a history of stirring up controversy with his inflammatory lectures, and was recently found guilty of breaching the Racial Discrimination Act. His preachings have been linked to alleged gunmen, including Naveed Akram, 24, who was involved in a shooting at Bondi Beach.
Despite claims that Haddad’s involvement in the prayer hall is limited to occasional guest speaking engagements, the council is taking a hardline stance. “He’s taken decisive action … this is a kind of leadership that we need right now,” Premier Chris Minns said of Mayor Bilal El-Hayek’s decision to shut down the prayer hall.
The Al Madina Group, which manages the site, has questioned the council’s sudden order to cease operations, citing “good faith” and a lack of enforcement action in the past. However, the council remains resolute, and the future of the prayer hall hangs in the balance.