Sydney's Controversial Islamic Prayer Hall Closes Permanently Amid Crackdown on "Factories of Hate"
The Al Madina Dawah centre in Bankstown, a Sydney suburb, has permanently closed its doors after coming under intense scrutiny following the recent Bondi terror attack. The centre, which was associated with cleric Wisam Haddad, had faced mounting pressure from authorities, including Canterbury Bankstown council, over concerns that it was operating without proper approval.
The decision to close comes as part of a broader crackdown on "factories of hate" in New South Wales, a move welcomed by Premier Chris Minns. Under the new laws, councils will have greater powers to shut down unlawful places of worship and impose stricter fines for non-compliance.
Haddad, also known as Abu Ousayd, had been at the centre of controversy after media reports suggested that one of the alleged Bondi beach gunman was a follower of his Dawah preaching movement. Haddad's lawyer has vehemently denied any involvement in the shootings, but the cleric's name has continued to be linked to the tragedy.
The Al Madina Group, which managed the centre, initially claimed that Haddad held no management role and that his involvement with the centre was limited to occasional guest appearances. However, as the controversy escalated, the group eventually agreed to cease operations and apply for necessary approvals.
In a statement posted on Facebook, the Al Madina Group said that it had taken over the management of the centre from former tenants and that Haddad's role was "limited" to delivering lectures and sermons at times. The group also rejected allegations of extremism and national security concerns surrounding Haddad's involvement with the centre.
The permanent closure of the Al Madina Dawah centre marks a significant blow to Haddad's reputation and raises questions about the effectiveness of authorities in policing places of worship. As the New South Wales government continues to crack down on "factories of hate," it remains to be seen how this incident will shape the future of religious institutions in the state.
The Al Madina Dawah centre in Bankstown, a Sydney suburb, has permanently closed its doors after coming under intense scrutiny following the recent Bondi terror attack. The centre, which was associated with cleric Wisam Haddad, had faced mounting pressure from authorities, including Canterbury Bankstown council, over concerns that it was operating without proper approval.
The decision to close comes as part of a broader crackdown on "factories of hate" in New South Wales, a move welcomed by Premier Chris Minns. Under the new laws, councils will have greater powers to shut down unlawful places of worship and impose stricter fines for non-compliance.
Haddad, also known as Abu Ousayd, had been at the centre of controversy after media reports suggested that one of the alleged Bondi beach gunman was a follower of his Dawah preaching movement. Haddad's lawyer has vehemently denied any involvement in the shootings, but the cleric's name has continued to be linked to the tragedy.
The Al Madina Group, which managed the centre, initially claimed that Haddad held no management role and that his involvement with the centre was limited to occasional guest appearances. However, as the controversy escalated, the group eventually agreed to cease operations and apply for necessary approvals.
In a statement posted on Facebook, the Al Madina Group said that it had taken over the management of the centre from former tenants and that Haddad's role was "limited" to delivering lectures and sermons at times. The group also rejected allegations of extremism and national security concerns surrounding Haddad's involvement with the centre.
The permanent closure of the Al Madina Dawah centre marks a significant blow to Haddad's reputation and raises questions about the effectiveness of authorities in policing places of worship. As the New South Wales government continues to crack down on "factories of hate," it remains to be seen how this incident will shape the future of religious institutions in the state.
idk what's goin on with australia rn. like, u hear about sydney's islamic prayer hall closin down and i'm thinkin maybe they were just tryin to keep a low profile after that bondi beach thingy? 
but at the same time, i feel bad 4 ppl gettin unfairly scrutinized 'cause of somethin their teacher said 10 yrs ago 
. it's like, we gotta learn 2 balance freedom of speech w/ keepin everyone safe & stuff 
. whats ur take on this tho? 
Like, can't they just coexist and talk things out? This whole 'factory of hate' thing is just a scapegoat for people who are really scared. And what's up with the authorities being so quick to shut them down without even giving them a chance to prove themselves? It's like, let's not be too hasty here... 
I mean, have you seen those old VHS tapes from the 90s where Muslim clerics would just talk about basic human rights and justice? 
Those were some powerful speeches back then, man. Now it feels like we're just demonizing anyone who's even remotely affiliated with a particular group... 
. Closing down the Al Madina Dawah centre won't bring back those who lost their lives, but I hope it brings some closure to the community 
. It's crazy how one person's actions can cause such fear and uncertainty in others 
. The NSW government is taking a strong stance against "factories of hate" which is definitely needed 
. But, as with anything, there's always room for improvement and I hope authorities can find a balance between keeping people safe and respecting their rights 
.
. But seriously, how much evidence did they need to shut this place down? Was it really necessary to close it down completely or could they've just given them a slap on the wrist? Don't get me wrong, I don't condone extremism in any form, but let's not jump to conclusions here 
. This whole thing reeks of politics and fear-mongering to me 
.
.
its not about the bad guys, its just another example of how ppl get radicalised 
and now theres gonna be more laws to crack down on it 
think this is just the beginning...