Sir Grappler Truth Teller OAM
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Posted already - but good value:-
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/canterbury-bankstown-council-shuts-down...
"Canterbury-Bankstown Council shuts down prayer hall linked to notorious preacher Wissam Haddad
A Sydney council has moved to shut down what it says is an illegal prayer hall linked to notorious Islamic preacher Wissam Haddad.
The City of Canterbury Bankstown Council issued a "cease use" directive at the Bankstown Al Madina Dawah Centre in the city's south-west on Monday.
The council said a review of council records dating back to the 1970s found the site on Kitchener Parade had never been approved to run as a prayer hall, and had only recently received approval to operate as a medical centre.
"Our recent surveillance indicates there is a strong suspicion the premises is being used contrary to its intended use," a council spokesperson said in a statement.
"We have issued the cease use notices which will be effective immediately. There are no compromises, and we will be taking further action if they don't comply."
Mr Haddad was previously issued with a directive to shut down premises unauthorised to conduct prayer meetings at other sites, according to council.
Mr Haddad, who is also known as Abu Ousayd, is a notorious Islamic preacher recently found by the Federal Court to have breached the Racial Discrimination Act in a series of antisemitic lectures.
Last week counterterrorism officials told the ABC one of the alleged Bondi gunmen, Naveed Akram, 24, was a follower of his preachings.
Through a lawyer earlier this week, Mr Haddad says he "vehemently denies any knowledge of or involvement in the shootings that took place at Bondi Beach" on December 14.
Organisation questions 'timing and motivation
The Al Madina Group, the company that manages the site, said in a statement on Tuesday Mr Haddad did not have any involvement in its operation and it has "acted in good faith" since taking over the premises.
"And was under the reasonable impression that no development Application (DA) was required, given that the former organisation AMDC [Al Madina Dawah Centre], had operated at the same location for nearly four years without issue or enforcement action."
The company said it questioned the "bases, timing and motivation behind Bankstown Council's sudden order to cease operations".
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