An Islamic prayer hall in Sydney, which faced intense scrutiny following the Bondi Junction mass stabbing, has announced its permanent closure. The Al Madina Dawah centre in Bankstown posted a brief statement on its Facebook account on Wednesday morning confirming the move.
Council Crackdown and 'Cease Use' Directive
Canterbury Bankstown council issued a formal 'cease use' directive to cleric Wisam Haddad last month. The action came after council surveillance determined the premises on Kitchener Parade had never received approval to operate as a place of worship. Council records, reviewed back to 1970, showed the site was only approved for use as a medical centre.
A council spokesperson stated that surveillance indicated a strong suspicion the premises was being used contrary to its approved purpose. The directive was issued immediately, with the council vowing to take further action if there was non-compliance.
Link to Bondi Attack and Denials
The centre and Haddad came under media and official scrutiny after reports alleged that Naveed Akram, the man responsible for the Bondi beach killings, was a follower of a Dawah preaching movement associated with Haddad. Haddad, also known as Abu Ousayd, has vehemently denied any knowledge or involvement in the attacks.
In a Facebook statement on 17 December, Haddad denied Akram was part of his movement or a follower, claiming "no verified photograph exists" of them together. The Al Madina Group, which said it managed the centre, also posted on 15 December stressing that Haddad held no management role and was only an occasional guest speaker.
New Laws and 'Factories of Hate' Crackdown
The closure aligns with a broader crackdown announced by New South Wales Premier Chris Minns. New laws will grant councils stronger powers to shut down unlawful places of worship, described by the premier as part of a move against 'factories of hate'.
Under the proposed legislation:
- Councils must consult NSW police before approving any religious premises.
- Fines for operating without development consent will skyrocket from $11,000 to $110,000 for individuals.
- For corporations, fines will jump from $22,000 to $220,000.
The Al Madina Group initially claimed it was only "temporarily pausing operations" to lodge a change of use application. However, this week's announcement confirms the closure is permanent. The group had previously rejected any conflation of planning matters with allegations of extremism or criminal conduct.
