Abu Ahmad's calls to arms draw rebuke from Australia's peak imam council
A Melbourne preacher told followers to take up arms against enemies and not befriend Jews and Christians in a July sermon.
Abu Ahmad, an Islamic preacher at Melbourne's Al Bayyinah Islamic Centre, made comments during a July sermon. Abu Ahmad said followers should take up arms against his enemies.
Abu Ahmad said they should not befriend Jews and Christians. The Australian National Imams' Council said it was deeply concerned.
It strongly condemned any call to take up arms against civilians or religious communities. Ahmad later said he was reading from a book chapter on Islamic allegiance and enmity.
He said it was not a personal call for violence. Independent MP Allegra Spender said the comments show why Australia needs stronger, nationally consistent hate speech laws.
- Al Bayyinah Islamic Centre, Melbourne
- Preacher location
- July
- Sermon month
- Australian National Imams' Council
- Peak body response
Why it mattersReligious hate speech can fuel violence and erode social cohesion. This case highlights the debate over Australia's legal tools to curb extremist rhetoric.
AustraliaRaises the question of Australian federal hate speech laws, which the Albanese government tried to pass but abandoned after failing to win support from the Nationals and Greens.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 3 h ago
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