Sydney-born Islamic preacher denies insulting Jews in Federal Court testimony

Islamic preacher Wissam Haddad testified in court that he never intended to insult Jews and that his comments were directed at the Israeli government's actions in Gaza. Haddad is defending a lawsuit filed by the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, which alleges he breached the Racial Discrimination Act with antisemitic comments. Haddad's comments included referring to Jews as "treacherous" and "descendants of apes and pigs."

Sydney, June 11, 2025 — Controversial Islamic preacher Wissam Haddad, also known as Abu Ousayd, testified in court today, denying any intention to insult Jews and asserting that his comments were directed at the Israeli government's actions in Gaza. Haddad is defending a lawsuit filed by the Executive Council of Australian Jewry (ECAJ), which alleges that his comments breached the Racial Discrimination Act.

Haddad's defense team argued that his comments were not meant to insult Jewish people but rather to criticize the Israeli government's policies. In his testimony, Haddad stated that he had never intended to offend or humiliate Jews but was instead expressing his views on the Israeli government's actions in Gaza [1].

The ECAJ, Australia's peak Jewish body, alleges that Haddad's lectures, delivered at the Al Madina Dawah Centre (AMDC) in Bankstown in November 2023, included derogatory generalizations about Jewish people. Haddad's comments, which were subsequently broadcast online, included referring to Jews as "vile", "treacherous", "cowardly", "wicked and scheming", and "love wealth" [1].

Haddad's defense team has argued that his sermons were delivered in good faith and for the purpose of delivering religious and historical lectures to the AMDC's congregants. They maintain that the comments were made in the context of discussing the Gaza War and were not reasonably likely to offend, insult, humiliate, or intimidate Jewish people in Australia [1].

The trial, which is set to test the limits of religious expression and hate speech under Australian law, is expected to last a week. Both Haddad and the ECAJ will rely on lay witnesses and expert testimony. The ECAJ has enlisted professor of theology at Notre Dame University, Gabriel Reynolds, while Haddad will call Sheikh Adel Ibrahim from the Greenacre Prayers Hall in Sydney to give evidence [1].

The case has drawn significant attention due to its implications for freedom of speech and religious expression in Australia. Section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act, which prohibits offensive behavior based on race or ethnic origin, has been a contentious issue in several high-profile cases [1].

References:
[1] https://www.theguardian.com/news/2025/jun/10/sydney-cleric-being-sued-for-alleged-antisemitism-says-case-is-an-existential-battle-between-islam-and-unbelievers