<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A Sydney Islamic centre linked to controversial preacher Wissam Haddad has been shut down for illegally operating as a prayer hall.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Canterbury-Bankstown Council issued a "cease use" directive over Haddad's use of the Al Madina Dawah Centre in the city's south-west.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A review of council records dating back to 1970 revealed the centre was never approved to operate as a prayer hall and was only recently being approved to operate as a medical centre.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/bondi-beach-terror-attack-police-officer-wounded-during-mass-shooting-discharged-from-hospital/4396a508-9d6f-4922-9e62-202e5c58fc6a" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Young police officer injured in Bondi attack home for Christmas</span></strong></a><strong><span></span></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The centre never sought authorisation to change the use of the address from a medical centre to a prayer hall, according to the council.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Our recent surveillance indicates there is a strong suspicion the premises is being used contrary to its intended use," a council spokesperson said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We have issued the cease use notices, which will be effective immediately. </span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/al-madina-dawah-centre-linked-to-wissam-haddad-shut-down-for-illegally-operating-as-prayer-hall/12c39cc0-6bdd-4983-a18a-1a160dba0d43" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"There are no compromises, and we will be taking further action if they don't comply."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Council has also issued notices to the building's owner and other related parties to alert them of the currently approved use.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Al Madina Dawah Centre has been criticised for its association with Haddad, also known as Abu Ousayd.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He has reportedly been associated with the alleged Bondi terrorist Naveed Akram and was found in the Federal Court in July to have breached the Racial Discrimination Act for antisemitic lectures.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Haddad has denied any prior knowledge of the Bondi attack.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Al Madina Dawah Centre has also come under new management in the past week, and said it believed it did not need a development application as the previous owners had operated out of the site for four years without any issue.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>It insisted that Haddad held no management or administration role, operational authority, or decision-making at the centre and had only attended as an occasional guest speaker.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/bondi-beach-shooting-nsw-expected-to-pass-the-harshest-gun-reforms-in-australia/5c124ed4-0d82-47aa-abb9-78595c167b6e" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>NSW expected to pass gun and hate speech laws as premier shakes off challenge</span></strong></a><span></span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Al Madina Group rejects any attempt to conflate administrative or planning matters with allegations of extremism, national security, or criminal conduct," it said in a statement today.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Such framing is not only misleading (but) dangerously irresponsible."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Haddad was previously ordered to shut down unauthorised prayer meetings at a venue on Eldon Street in Georges Hall in 2023 which was only approved to operate as a gym.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He, however, failed to comply and was issued with another notice and eventually closed.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>After media reports emerged that he was preaching from the Al Madina Dawah Centre in May, the council investigated and carried out surveillance of the property.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>But they found no evidence to issue a notice.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>After continued surveillance, they gained photo evidence that the address was being used for unauthorised purposes.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Council needs to make it clear that we have no control over what is preached inside these 'illegal' prayer halls and our role is to ensure the premises are used in accordance with their authorised use," the council spokesperson said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We will continue to monitor the centre and will be taking further action if necessary."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Non-compliance with the order could lead to a $3000 fine for an individual and $6000 fine for a corporation.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/bondi-terror-attack-more-details-gun-crime-hate-speech-crackdown-revealed-prime-minister-anthony-albanese/4ec6030e-a3da-472e-9769-3f9e46e47a57" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Non-terror groups that 'hate Australia' target of new reform</span></strong></a><span></span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Premier Chris Minns said he supported the council's decision and offered his support for more operations.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"This is an important change not just for that community but for NSW," he told reporters this afternoon.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I want to make it clear that it is not the end of the matter.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We need to take decisive steps, whether through planning laws and hate speech, to send the message to those intent on putting hate in people's hearts or spreading racism in the community, that they will be met with the full force of the law, and that's exactly what happened today."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Minns added the community can "expect more of this, not less of it, in the weeks to come".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><em><span></span></em><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/how-to-follow-9news-digital/29855bb1-ad3d-4c38-bc25-3cb52af1216f"><em><strong><span>DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP</span></strong></em></a><em><strong><span>: Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. 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