A western Sydney council has moved to close an “illegal” Islamic prayer hall associated with the controversial cleric Wisam Haddad, which has come under scrutiny since the Bondi massacre.

In a move supported by the New South Wales premier, Chris Minns, the City of Canterbury Bankstown council says it has issued a “cease use” directive on Haddad late Monday, after surveilling the Al Madina centre on Kitchener Parade in Bankstown.

A review of records dating back to 1970 revealed the centre never had approval to operate as a prayer hall and was only recently being approved to operate as a medical centre, the council said in a statement.

“Our recent surveillance indicates there is a strong suspicion the premises is being used contrary to its intended use,” a council spokesperson said.

“We have issued the cease use notices which will be effective immediately. There are no compromises, and we will be taking further action if they don’t comply.”

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Media reports have alleged Naveed Akram, the alleged Bondi beach gunman, was a follower of a Dawah preaching movement Haddad led.

However, a lawyer for Haddad said last week that he “vehemently denies any knowledge of or involvement in the shootings that took place at Bondi beach”.

In a statement, the Al Madina Group said it now manages the centre and did so independently of Haddad. It “rejects any attempt to conflate administrative or planning mutters with allegations of extremism, national security, or criminal conduct”.

“Such framing is not only misleading but dangerously irresponsible,” it said in the statement. “Al Madina Group has repeatedly and unequivocally stated that the premises in question is under new management.

“Wisam Haddad holds no management role, has no operational authority, and is not involved in the administration or decision making of the current organisation.”

It said that upon assuming management of the premises, the group “was under the reasonable impression that no development application was required”.

Last week, the Al Madina Group said Haddad has continued to deliver some lectures and sermons at the centre since it began managing it.

Minns praises move

Minns said he supported council’s decision and praised the “decisive action” of its mayor, Bilal El-Hayek.

“This is an important change not just for that community but for New South Wales,” the premier said on Tuesday.

A council spokesperson said that Haddad was also issued a “cease use” directive for a building in Eldon Street at Georges Hall in December 2023, which only had approval to operate as a gym. It alleged that building had also been used for prayer meetings.

Council said it had surveilled the Al Madina centre in May after the Daily Telegraph reported Haddad was preaching there, “but had no evidence to issue any notices”.

“Despite no complaints from nearby residents, we continued to conduct ongoing surveillance of the premises, and we now have the photographic evidence to suspect the centre is being used contrary to what it has been approved for,” the spokesperson said.

“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.

“We will continue to monitor the centre and will be taking further action if necessary.”

A council spokesperson said it also issued notices to the building’s owner and others.

Non-compliance may result in council issuing a penalty infringement notice of $3,000 for an individual or $6,000 for a corporation.

In a Facebook post on 15 December – the day after the massacre – the Al Madina Group said that it had taken over management of the centre from the former tenants, the Al Madina Dawah Centre.

“We wish to clearly state that Ustadh Abu Ousayd [Haddad] has no role in the management, committee, or board of Al Madina Group,” it said.

“His involvement is limited to occasional invitations as a guest speaker, including delivering lectures and, at times, Friday sermons.

“We reiterate that the centre is operating under new and independent management, Al Madina Group expects that this reality be acknowledged and respected, and we strongly reject any attempts by media outlets or others to unjustly tarnish the organisation or misrepresent its leadership.”