A Sydney imam has been sued for racial discrimination after being antisemitic remarks on a publicly streamed lecture. Wissam Haddad told the court he never set out to insult jewish people.

Council of the City of Sydney

Wissam Haddad, an imam at the Al Medina Dawa Centre in Bankstown, is facing allegations in federal court over speeches that reportedly included antisemitic remarks. Senior Jewish community leaders claim Haddad breached the Racial Discrimination Act by referring to killing Jews and using derogatory language in his lectures, which were also shared on social media.

Haddad argues that his speeches were private and intended for fellow Muslims, asserting his constitutional rights to political communication and religious freedom. The court is examining whether the public dissemination of his remarks constitutes a breach of the law. The hearing is ongoing.

Sydney imam denies being antisemitic for clicks

Wissam Haddad, real name William, gives regular lectures at the Al Medina Dawa Centre that he helped establish in Bankstown, but he has another lively presence on social media. They are the ones dragging us to court, so we're not going to come unarmed. We're going to fight them with everything that we have. Two senior Jewish community leaders claim he breached the Racial Discrimination Act for speeches that referred to killing Jews, whom he described as mischievous and vile, rats and cowards. We'll be commenting more fully at the end of the case. Peter Braham, senior counsel for the Jewish leaders, told the court, just about everything Haddad says in his speeches is designed to attract public attention and controversy. You gave a highly offensive speech that delighted in controversy, repeating it on your Instagram page. No, said Wissam Haddad, who said the Quranic quote about killing Jews was relevant because everything the Prophet says is relevant. After sustained questioning, Haddad conceded that he knew his speeches would be posted to YouTube. That matters because private speech is safe under the Racial Discrimination Act. Haddad's case is that he was speaking privately to fellow Muslims at his centre. He was not speaking to the public at large. Haddad's lawyers say the preacher has a constitutional right to political communication and to the free exercise of his religion. The hearing in the federal court continues tomorrow. Hugh Rimmington for 10 News First.

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Moscow

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Breakdown