An Islamic preacher sued for calling Jews “vile and treacherous” will learn if he has defended a discrimination lawsuit by arguing for religious freedom.
Sydney-based Al Madina Dawah Centre cleric Wissam Haddad has been accused of racial discrimination during a series of fiery sermons from late 2023 that racked up thousands of views online.
In the speeches, Mr Haddad – also known as Abu Ousayd – referred to Jewish people as “vile”, “treacherous”, “murderous” and “descendants of pigs and apes”.
The Federal Court lawsuit was filed by Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-chief executive Peter Wertheim and deputy president Robert Goot.
They want court orders that the published lectures, which they say are offensive and could incite violence towards Jews, be taken down and Mr Haddad banned from making similar comments.
Justice Angus Stewart will deliver his judgment on Tuesday.
At a hearing in June, Mr Haddad’s lawyers argued that the speeches were not racist, but rather they were protected speech because they were historical and religious lectures delivered in good faith to contextualise the war in Gaza.
While initially claiming that the sermons were made for a small private Muslim audience, the Islamic preacher admitted part-way through the hearing that he knew they would be published online.
Lawyers for the two Jewish leaders have accused Haddad of engaging in an offensive pattern of behaviour, pointing to provocative statements he previously made about Christian and Hindu communities.
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