A controversial Islamic preacher with established links to the alleged Bondi Beach gunman is facing intensified scrutiny after unveiling plans to use animated cartoons to disseminate his teachings to children.
Cartoon Classroom and Defiant Centre
Wissam Haddad, who also uses the name Abu Ousayd, this week published a 47-second animated video on the encrypted messaging platform Telegram. The clip features a cartoon depiction of Haddad, wearing what appears to be a Palestinian keffiyeh, standing in a classroom with young children.
"Welcome to learning with Abu Ousayd," the animated preacher tells viewers. In the video, he instructs the children on the concept of Tawheed, or the oneness of God. "As Muslims, we don't worship a man or an idol or a man-made system, we worship only Allah," he states, adding, "We never obey anyone if it means disobeying Allah." Haddad hinted that more such videos are planned.
This development coincides with the Al Madina Dawah Centre in Bankstown, where Haddad previously lectured, being found to have defied official orders to shut down. The City of Canterbury Bankstown fined the centre $3,000 for "blatantly ignoring" a closure order issued in December, after it was found to lack necessary approvals to operate as a prayer hall.
Council compliance officers noted that while the front gates were closed, a steady stream of people was seen entering and leaving via a back door. The centre subsequently announced its closure in a social media statement on Wednesday.
Links to Extremism and Court Rulings
The alleged Bondi Beach terrorist, Naveed Akram, was identified as a follower of Haddad and a former worshipper at the Al Madina Dawah Centre. The 24-year-old was also involved with Haddad's Dawah Van street outreach group. Footage obtained by the ABC shows Akram, then aged 17, participating with a related Street Dawah group in mid-2019.
While there is no suggestion Haddad was involved in the Bondi attack, he has been repeatedly linked by intelligence reports to Australian extremists and senior figures within global jihadist movements. A previous ABC investigation identified him as a spiritual leader within Australia's pro-Islamic State network.
Last year, the Federal Court found Haddad had breached the Racial Discrimination Act over a series of antisemitic lectures. In one, he claimed Jews were "scheming" to pit Muslims against each other. In another, he referred to Jews as "the descendants of pigs and monkeys" and stated the "sword is the only way" to deal with those who reject Allah.
The court ordered him to remove the offending material and refrain from making similar statements. However, reports indicate he has continued to spread antisemitic tropes.
Ongoing Activity and Security Warnings
In a video posted on Instagram just last Thursday, Haddad criticised NSW Premier Chris Minns's response to the Bondi attack, questioning if politicians feared "losing Zionist-funded donations." He alleged the government was applying "two-tiered policing" influenced by lobby groups.
Previously, Haddad has quoted Islamic texts about the "end of times," describing Muslims fighting Jews and claiming trees would tell Muslims: "Oh Muslim, there is a Jew behind me. Come and kill him."
A former ASIO undercover agent has repeatedly warned the agency that Haddad was indoctrinating young people at the Al Madina Dawah Centre. Although never charged with terrorism offences, his ongoing activities and new focus on child-oriented content through encrypted channels are likely to sustain official and public concern.
