Sydney prayer hall linked to radical preacher closes permanently

Al Madina Dawah Centre, the controversial prayer hall linked to radical preacher Wissam Haddad, has announced it is permanently closing its doors.

The centre had been issued a “cease use” directive by Canterbury-Bankstown council, after it was found that it did not have the appropriate approvals to operate as a prayer hall.

In a Facebook post on Wednesday morning, the centre announced it was “permanently closed” without adding any comment or explanation.

Haddad previously preached and ran the centre, and has been in the spotlight after links with one of the Bondi shooters, Naveed Akram, emerged last month.

Convicted terror offenders have attended events hosted by Haddad, who is also known as Abu Ousayd. Haddad has not faced serious charges or been directly linked to terrorist acts. There is no suggestion he was involved in the Bondi attack.

Akram and his father Sajid killed 15 innocent people on December 14 after opening fire on a Hanukkah event held on Bondi Beach. Sajid was shot dead by police, while his son has been charged with almost 60 offences, including 15 murders.

A post from December 23, when the council announced it was seeking to shut down the centre, said that the managers behind the centre were working through the requisite Change of Use application process to be able to return to normal operations.

At the time, they emphasised that the centre was “not closing” but was pausing operations “purely to ensure full compliance with council requirements and to obtain the necessary approvals”.

“Although the premises meet all the requirements and zoning of a community centre, we are required to lodge a Change of Use application with Bankstown Council. While this process is under way, we will be temporarily pausing operations until the matter is fully rectified,” they wrote at the time.

The council’s records indicated the property in Bankstown was previously approved to operate only as a medical centre, and that the development consent necessary to authorise a change of use was never sought.

The centre has previously distanced itself from Haddad. Al Madina Group, the centre’s new organisational committee, has said Haddad holds “no management role, has no operational authority and is not involved in the administration or decision-making of the current organisation”.

Despite that, in the days after the Bondi attack, the centre shared a statement from Haddad in which he attempted to distance himself from the attack and denied any involvement.

Haddad said in the statement that there was “no verified photos” of him and Akram together, but he did not address whether he knew the alleged shooter. He added it was “misleading” to call Akram one of his followers and denied any prior knowledge of the attack.

Al Madina Dawah Centre was used for Friday prayers, as well as Islamic classes and children’s programs.

The council had previously attempted to shut down another of Haddad’s centres, issuing a warning about a centre he was running in Georges Hall which was only approved to operate as a gym.

After further inquiries and surveillance by the council, a second notice was issued and complied with.

Non-compliance could result in a penalty infringement notice of $3000 for an individual or $6000 for a corporation.

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