A radical Muslim preacher - who has likened Jews to pigs, denounced Christians and urged children to die for their religion - is teaching Islam to young followers in Sydney after years in exile in the Middle East.
Despite Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd previously telling Sheik Feiz Mohammed never to return to Australia, the firebrand is delivering sermons at the Ahlus Sunnah Wal Jama’ah centre in Auburn.
NSW police told The Sunday Telegraph they were monitoring Sheik Feiz, who has a reputation worldwide as an inflammatory preacher.
“We maintain an ongoing relationship with him and other members of the local community as part of our community engagement program,” a police spokesman said.
“NSW Police Force will only take an interest in teachings by members of the community if they promote breaking the law.”
The Ahlus Sunnah Wal Jama’ah centre, of which he is the full-time Amir, is on Auburn Rd behind the Bakhiri Book Store, which sells religious texts and other artefacts.
The Sydney-born cleric and former champion boxer created a furore in 2007 when his Death Series DVDs were uncovered by the The Daily Telegraph.
In them he likened Jews to “pigs” and urged Muslim children to become martyrs.
“Teach them this: There is nothing more beloved to me than wanting to die as a mujahid [holy warrior].
Put in their soft, tender hearts the zeal of jihad and a love of martyrdom,” the Sheik said in one taped sermon.
In another lecture, he said “every single non-Jew is a slave created to serve the Jew”, adding that “their time will come like every other evil person’s time will come”.
The comments provoked outrage with then opposition foreign spokesman Mr Rudd, who said: “I would say this to Sheik Mohammed: Do not return to Australia, you are not welcome here.”
At the time Sheik Feiz, who preaches with a strong Australian accent, was living in Lebanon and running by proxy the Global Islamic Youth Centre in Liverpool, which was raided by the AFP as part of its investigation into him.
Mr Rudd yesterday said of his return: “If he was found to have contravened laws, he would be subject to appropriate law enforcement.”
The Sunday Telegraph has learned that Sheik Feiz has been accused of being linked to a political sabotage campaign on the streets of Auburn.
Candidate Jamal Daoud, who is standing in the state election, complained to authorities that campaign posters had been stripped from shop windows by the Sheik’s followers. “They told everybody that democracy is not permitted,” Mr Daoud said.
A spokesman for the Ahlus Sunnah wal Jamaah Association of Australia said his sermons would be religious teachings that would promote peace “as all religions do”.
Sheik Mohammed did not return calls, however Samil Dandan, the president of the Lebanese Muslim Association, said Sheik Feiz was a changed man and should not be judged on his past.