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Imams’ council condemns Melbourne Islamic preacher’s call to ‘take up arms’ against enemies

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Cite

Adeshola Ore Community affairs reporter. (2026, September 29). Imams’ council condemns Melbourne Islamic preacher’s call to ‘take up arms’ against enemies. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/sep/29/imam-council-melbourne-islamic-preacher-abu-ahmad-video-take-up-arms-ntwnfb

Dated when The Aporia collected the article, usually within hours of publication. Check the original for its exact date and byline.

The Guardian · collected 2026-09-29 · by Adeshola Ore Community affairs reporter

Quick Summary

Australia’s peak body for imams, the ANIC, expressed deep concern over reports that a Melbourne-based preacher named Abu Ahmad called on followers to “take up arms against his enemies” during a sermon in July. The preacher later clarified that the comments were from a book he was reading and not his personal views, emphasizing that Islamic teachings do not permit harming peaceful non-Muslims. ANIC condemned any call for violence but stated it would review the context before making further judgments, reaffirming their commitment to upholding the safety and security of Australia’s communities.
Written by AI on 2026-09-29, from this article's own text only (the story summary below draws on all the coverage).

AI analysis

Story summary

In July 2025, an Islamic preacher known as Abu Ahmad, associated with the Al Bayyinah Islamic Centre in Springvale, Melbourne, urged followers to "take up arms" against enemies including Jews and Christians. The sermon was posted on social media channels linked to the center. This call comes after a Federal Court judge criticized judicial leniency toward religious extremists who spread hate. Abu Ahmad’s rhetoric echoes that of Sydney-based preacher Wisam Haddad, who previously faced legal action for anti-Semitic sermons. Both preachers are connected to individuals involved in past terror attacks, such as the Bondi shootings. The Australian National Imams’ Council (ANIC) condemned these statements and expressed deep concern about their implications. This incident has reignited debates over hate speech laws and the regulation of extremist religious rhetoric in Australia.

Written for “Preacher Calls For Armed Resistance” on 2026-11-03, grounded in this article and the 2 other(s) covering the same event.

Story

📰 Preacher Calls For Armed Resistance
Politics · 3 article(s) covering the same event. Compare every outlet's account →

Compared with similar articles

This article reads unscored and hedges 5% of its claims. Each row says how that neighbour differs.
Daily Mail
⚖️ Leans strongly right Hedges 3 of 27 claims Outlet record 69/100
The Sydney Morning Herald
⚖️ Leans left Hedges 4 of 37 claims Outlet record 61/100
“Article A describes the sermon where Abu Ahmad made controversial statements, while Article B reports on the Imams' Council's response to those statements.”
How this article was measured signals, leaning charts, publisher record, byline, topics and claims

Signals How these are calculated →

Claims extracted
21
sentences that state something as happening or true
Uncertain
5%
1 of 21 hedged ("reportedly", "may", "according to")
Leaning
withheld
no quote in the article backed the model's score
Publisher signals
66/100
The Guardian's corrections and hedging, across everything collected from it. Not a measure of accuracy.
Outlets on this story
3
Politics
Same framing elsewhere
1
articles that frame the event the way this one does
Analyzed 2026-09-29 · how these are computed

How this is being covered How these are calculated →

Article leaning vs. publisher reliability
Source leaning vs. consistency

Publisher

The Guardian · 2856 article(s) · 6 correction(s) detected
Running correction rate · 6 correction(s)

Who wrote this

Adeshola Ore Community affairs reporter
2 article(s) here · 1 carrying a prediction
🔮 ANIC said it would not make findings about the “individual or the precise context of the reported remarks” until it could propertly review material.
🔮 A Palestinian careers adviser who was allegedly directed to stop wearing a keffiyeh at a Sydney government school because it was a symbol that “may cause discord” has lodged a racial discrimination case in the federal court against the state of New South Wales.
Also by Adeshola Ore Community affairs reporter
Nothing else under this byline is closely related to this article, so these are simply their most recent.

Topics

ANIC Australian Christians Jews Muslims

Subjects

Muslims NORP · 5× ANIC ORG · 4× Christians NORP · 4× Jews NORP · 4× Australian NORP · 3× Abu Ahmad PERSON · 2× Australia GPE · 2× Islamic NORP · 2× Melbourne GPE · 2× non-Muslims NORP · 2×

Narrative

“If the aim of the enemies of Islam, whether they are atheists, or Jews, or Christians, or modernists, or Zionists, or communists, is the emasculation of … the Muslims and the erosion of their unique character in order to make them the ass of the chosen people, as it is put in the protocols of the elders of Zion, then the urgency of this issue should become clear to every Muslim,” he said.
framing: assertive · carried by 1 article(s) · first seen 2026-09-29
🔮 ANIC said it would not make findings about the “individual or the precise context of the reported remarks” until it could propertly review material.

Claims (21 extracted, 1 hedged)

Australia’s peak body for imams says it is “deeply concerned” about reports a Melbourne-based Islamic preacher called for followers to “take up arms against his enemies” and not take “Jews and the Christians for friends.” asserted
followers → say → friends
The Australian National Imams’ Council (ANIC) released a statement on Tuesday after Nine Newspapers revealed the preacher who goes by the name Abu Ahmad made the comments during a sermon in July. asserted
who → release → July
Reading from a book chapter, Abu Ahmad said Muslims should not “take the Jews and the Christians for friends” in a video posted to the social media feed of Melbourne-based Al Bayyinah Islamic Centre in July. asserted
Muslims → read → July
“For the sake of Allah, it includes the obligation to declare enmity for his sake, opposition for the sake of Allah. asserted
it → include → Allah
It is to declare opposition, indeed, to take up arms against his enemies, to shun them, and to stay far from them both in word and deed. asserted
It → declare → word
This proves that simple opposition of the spirit is not enough and that it must be complete by honouring of your commitment,” he said. asserted
he → prove → commitment
“If the aim of the enemies of Islam, whether they are atheists, or Jews, or Christians, or modernists, or Zionists, or communists, is the emasculation of … the Muslims and the erosion of their unique character in order to make them the ass of the chosen people, as it is put in the protocols of the elders of Zion, then the urgency of this issue should become clear to every Muslim,” he said. asserted
he → make → Muslim
In an Instagram post on Monday, the Al Bayyinah Islamic Centre included a statement from the preacher. asserted
Centre → include → preacher
“The statements the article is attributing to me were from a passage of a book that I was reading during a lesson on al-Walāʾ wal-Barāʾ. asserted
I → attribute → Barāʾ.
They were not a personal call from me for Muslims to attack Christians, Jews or other non-Muslims,” the post signed off by Ahmad said. asserted
post → attack → Ahmad
The post attached a video which he said was an “ explanation of that very passage from the same lesson” and explained it “does not permit harming, oppressing or being unjust towards peaceful non-Muslims. asserted
it → attach → Muslims
“Unfortunately, quoting the book without including the explanation that followed gives a completely different impression of what was being taught,” the post said. asserted
post → quote → impression
ANIC said it strongly and unequivocally condemns any call by any religious or non-religious preacher, leader or individual to take up arms against civilians, religious communities or the Australian people.” asserted
it → say → civilians
ANIC said it would not make findings about the “individual or the precise context of the reported remarks” until it could propertly review material. uncertain
it → say → material
ANIC reiterated it “categorically rejects incitement to violence, hatred or harm against any person or community.” asserted
it → reiterate → person
“The safety, security and wellbeing of Australia and the Australian people are fundamental responsibilities that Australian Muslims, Imams and religious leaders must uphold. asserted
Muslims → uphold → that
Islamic teachings require Muslims to honour the sanctity of human life, fulfil their responsibilities to society and contribute positively to the communities and country in which they live. asserted
they → require → which
The peak body called on all religious leaders, regardless of faith, to exercise responsibility in their public statements. asserted
body → call → statements
It added that the alleged conduct of an individual should not be used to condemn or blame an entire faith or community. asserted
conduct → add → faith
The Albanese government was forced to abandon anti-vilification laws that would have given authorities greater powers to crackdown on religious leaders who promote hatred ont he basis of religions, race, gender or sexuality after it failed to sure support from the Nationals and the Greens. asserted
it → force → Nationals
On Tuesday, independent federal MP Allegra Spender told Nine newspapers the comments showed “why we needed stronger and nationally consistent hate speech legislation”. asserted
we → tell → legislation
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