Family First National Director and NSW Legislative Council candidate Lyle Shelton has called on the Australian Federal Police to urgently investigate Melbourne Islamic preacher Abu Ahmad and, if the evidence establishes an offence, charge him over reported remarks urging Muslims to “take up arms” against the enemies of Allah.
The Age/SMH and News24 today reported that Abu Ahmad, a preacher associated with Melbourne’s Al Bayyinah Islamic Centre, told followers in a July sermon not to take “the Jews and the Christians for friends” and spoke of an obligation “to take up arms against his enemies”.
“This is chilling language which demands an urgent response from law enforcement,” Mr Shelton said.
“Australians should not have to tolerate preachers using places of worship or social media platforms to promote hostility towards Christians, Jews or anyone else, let alone language about taking up arms.
“The AFP should examine the full, unedited sermon and all relevant material and determine whether Commonwealth criminal laws have been breached. If the evidence establishes an offence, Abu Ahmad should be charged.
“Australia has religious freedom, but religious freedom is not a licence to incite violence.
“If Islam is a religion of peace, Australian Muslim leaders should be among the strongest voices condemning rhetoric about taking up arms against Jews and Christians.
“There should be no ambiguity. There should be no excuses. Muslim community leaders should make clear that incitement to violence against people because of their faith has no place in Australia.
“Someone found to be inciting religious violence should not be free to continue preaching that message in Australian Islamic worship centres.
“Governments should examine what lawful mechanisms are available to prevent people found to have incited violence from using religious institutions as platforms for further extremist preaching.”
Mr Shelton said authorities should also investigate the Al Bayyinah Islamic Centre itself, including the material it has published and any relevant organisational or financial links.
The Age/SMH reports the centre was established in Springvale in 2024 and has been supported by Sydney preacher Wisam Haddad. It also cites an April 2025 ABC Four Corners investigation which described Al Bayyinah as an affiliated Melbourne prayer centre in a wider network associated with Haddad.
“The vast majority of Australians, whatever their religion, want to live peacefully alongside their neighbours,” Mr Shelton said.
“That peace depends upon authorities drawing a clear line at incitement to violence.
“Australia must remain a country where Christians, Jews, Muslims and people of every faith or none can live without being threatened because of what they believe.”