Two preachers’ visas cancelled over antisemitic remarks
In late March 2026, two Bangladeshi preachers, Mizanur Rahman Azhari and Shaykh Ahmadullah, arrived in Australia on visitor visas for a speaking tour of Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney and Canberra organised by the Islamic Practice and Dawah Circle (IPDC).
Bangladesh's Daily Star reported that Azhari's past sermons had described Adolf Hitler as divine punishment for Jews and called Jewish people "the biggest terrorists of the world" and a "poisonous blemish". In 2021 he had been stopped from boarding a flight to the UK (NCA NewsWire). Australian authorities cancelled his visa on Tuesday 31 March 2026, partway through the tour, and the Melbourne, Sydney and Canberra events were cancelled. Senator Jonno Duniam said: "There's a litany of examples of antisemitic hate speech, his maligning of the Hindu religion, demonising of the Bengali culture." Azhari said his remarks had been "taken out of context".
The Australian Jewish News reported that Ahmadullah had said Jewish people "keep the whole world in turmoil". His visa was revoked on Sunday 5 April 2026, after he had already left Sydney, which prevents him returning.
NCA NewsWire reported that The Daily Telegraph had revealed Azhari's visa was revoked after Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke was asked to remove him by the community group Australian Federation for Ethnic and Religious Minorities in Bangladesh, and that Burke cancelled the visa "after becoming aware of the case". Senator Duniam said several MPs had been alerted to Azhari's arrival by community organisations. AIJAC's Joel Burnie said the case "exposed a fundamental failure in Australia's immigration screening" (Australian Jewish News).
Two months earlier, in January 2026, Burke had cancelled the visa of Israeli influencer Sammy Yahood hours before he flew to Australia, saying "Spreading hatred is not a good reason to come" (Al Jazeera).
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