Two Australian Jewish leaders say they have been forced to sue a Muslim cleric over his “hateful” sermons aimed at stopping others from using racism to advance their political views.
Pastor Wissam Haddad, also known as Abu Ousayd, and the Sydney-based Al Madina Dawah Center were accused of racial discrimination in proceedings in federal court on Friday.
Peter Wertheim, co-director of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, and vice-president Robert Goot decided to press charges for alleged offensive conduct based on racial hatred.
Mr Haddad’s sermons were delivered at the Bankstown center in south-west Sydney and also published online.
In a statement Monday, Mr. Wertheim and Mr. Goot alleged that the pastor’s sermons used derogatory generalizations of the Jewish people.
“We have initiated proceedings in the Federal Court to defend the honor of our community, and as a warning to deter others who seek to mobilize racism to promote their political views,” Mr Wertheim said.
They are seeking court orders requiring the removal of the allegedly racist speeches and banning Mr. Haddad from making similar comments in the future.
They are not seeking damages or damages.
Abu Ousayd delivers his lecture on Jews at the Al Madina Dawah Center in western Sydney
Mr Wertheim said Australia’s multicultural success story meant people had the freedom to practice their faith in harmony and respect.
“That should mean we don’t bring the hatred, prejudice and intolerance of overseas conflicts and societies to Australia,” he said.
While maintaining social cohesion was the role of governments and their agencies, they had failed the Jewish community, Mr Wertheim said.
“It should not be up to our community, or any other community, to take private legal action to right a public injustice, and to stand up to those who sow hatred in our midst,” he told MONKEY.
“However, in the circumstances we feel we have no alternative.”
Last year, Ousayd said in vicious sermons: “Peace is bad for the Jew (they say) ‘there is nothing for us,’” he said.
‘There goes our media, there goes our Hollywood blockbusters.
“They need the struggle and the infighting among Muslims to continue to flourish and grow.”
He said there was no difference between Jews who did not support Israel and “Zionists” who did.
“Even these ultra-Orthodox Jews that you see today, who are against Israel and hate the Zionists… when the Messiah comes, they will still be fighting against Muslims,” he said.
‘Don’t be fooled, these people are still your friends.
‘Towards the end of time, when the Muslims will fight the Jews, the trees will speak, the stones will speak and they will say: ‘O Muslim, O believer, there is a Yahud (Jew) behind me, come and kill it’ .’
He said that Jews always claimed that “Muslims make things up” and “arrogantly” think that they are “better, that they are the best.”
