Australian Islamic Preacher Calls for Violence Against Jews and Christians

A young Melbourne-based Islamic preacher known as Abu Ahmed has been exposed for calling on his followers to take up arms against Jews and Christians in a sermon delivered in July. An excerpt of the sermon, published on social media by the Al-Bayanah Islamic center, revealed Abu Ahmed stating that spiritual struggle alone is insufficient and that "taking up arms" is necessary when confronting "enemies of Allah." He urged his audience to express anger towards these perceived enemies, whom he identified as atheists, Jews, Christians, modernists, Zionists, and communists, claiming they aim to harm Muslims and strip them of their identity.

The revelations have reignited debate in Australia about measures against hate preachers. In January, a parliamentary crisis led Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to split a bill aimed at combating hate groups and incitement. Certain provisions that would have expanded authorities' powers against hate preachers and neo-Nazis were abandoned. Officials have expressed frustration over insufficient powers to act against extremists operating in suburban areas.

Mike Burgess, the head of the Australian Security and Intelligence Organisation (ASIO), recently warned that the likelihood of a terrorist attack is higher than indicated by the official "probable" threat level. The Al-Bayanah center, established in 2024 in Springvale, Melbourne, is supported by Sydney preacher Wissam Haddad, who is linked to the Al-Madinah Dawah center in Bankstown. Haddad had encouraged his "brothers from Melbourne" to support Al-Bayanah and attend its weekly prayers.

Media reports indicate that earlier in 2025, Abu Ahmed preached at a Haddad-affiliated center in Bankstown against Western powers, labeling them "infidels." Previously, Navid Akram, who, along with his father Sajid, carried out a Hanukkah celebration attack near Bondi Beach on December 14, 2025, killing 15 people, had visited the Al-Madinah Dawah center.