June 2, 2024
A terror-praising Sydney preacher who applauded a teen for “standing up for prophet Mohammed” when he allegedly stabbed Assyrian Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel will not be investigated by police, as political leaders said authorities have “to get serious” on hate speech.
The Australian can reveal that a southwest Sydney cleric known only as “Brother Ismail” made the intervention on the alleged stabbing to a packed crowd at the Al Madina Dawah Centre in late May.
But that praise does not fall foul of commonwealth legislation outlawing “praising” a terrorist act, with state police confirming it would not investigate the cleric.
“These are our red lines and insults from a man (Bishop Emmanuel) followed by billions … it’s not a good idea, and this was the outcome and consequences,” the preacher said, referring to the Wakeley alleged terror incident on April 15.
“That kid, in his actions, stood up and defended the honour of Mohammed …”
A boy, 16, was charged with committing a terror offence after allegedly stabbing Bishop Emmanuel, who sustained, but recovered from, multiple injuries.
Police later launched raids to break up what they alleged was a teen terror cell, with six boys arrested and charged.
The sermon, posted to an online video platform, also appears to cut as Brother Ismail continues criticising the bishop and he lashed mainstream Islamic leaders for urging social cohesion in the wake of the attack.
“(Mainstream leaders) said ‘we don’t know him (the teenager), this was against Islam and is not the approach of Islam’,” he continued.
“Other (mainstream leaders) said they were praying for the bishop’s recovery. What kind of leadership is that? They (the bishop) stepped on our team and red lines, and yet our leadership did nothing about it.”
The cleric won’t be investigated for possible breaches of section 80.2C (1) in the criminal code, which outlaws a person “praising” a terrorist act, “in circumstances where there is a risk that such praise might have the effect” of motivating a person to commit another.
Opposition home affairs spokesman James Paterson said police and prosecutors “have got to get serious”.
“Open praise for alleged terror attacks must result in investigation, charges and prosecution,” the senator said.
“Right now our laws are being openly defied and mocked. Inaction and weakness will only lead to more tragedy.”
A NSW Police spokesman said: “the force has sought legal advice and it has been determined that the comments in question do not meet the (criminality) threshold”.
The Australian Federal Police had no comment.
It is the same preacher who, in November, warned of “security risks” if the Muslim community were pushed and that Muslims were “looking forward to joining the mujahideen”, and comes as both the federal and state governments separately looked at strengthening “ineffective” hate-speech laws.
Brother Ismail is a regular speaker at Bankstown’s Al Madina Dawah Centre, run by Abu Ousayd, who is also known as Wissam Haddad.
The country’s peak Jewish body has lodged vilification complaints against the centre and Mr Ousayd at the Australian Human Rights Commission, who has given a raft of incendiary and anti-Semitic sermons since October 7.
It comes as the federal government prepared to legislate stronger hate-speech provisions, possibly expanding the breadth of criminality and introducing new penalties. A NSW government review into its own “inoperable” hate-speech provisions, instigated in January, is expected to reveal its recommendations soon.
The Al Madina Dawah Centre was contacted for comment.
