Samir Mohtadi, known as Sheikh Abu Hamza, leads IISNA and MyCentre (Multicultural Youth Centre) in Broadmeadows, Melbourne. By his own account he was a Victorian champion kickboxer in the early 1990s and later an executive member of Preston Mosque, where he taught kickboxing. In 2009 he told men they could force their wives to have sex and beat them if they disobeyed; Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said "Australia will not tolerate these sort of remarks" and called on him to apologise (The Australian).
In June 2025 The Australian reported a sermon at the Australian Bosnian Islamic Centre in which he prayed: "Oh Allah, grant victory to our mujahideen in Palestine... cast terror into the hearts of the Zionists and shake the ground beneath their feet", and said Australia was waging a "war of no God" on Islam, "much more dangerous than the war in Gaza". In a video on IISNA's Facebook page (1 June 2025) he said: "These Zionists are not normal... They're blood-sucking human beings... they're scavengers... they're not humans". Tony Burke and Andrew Hastie rebuked him. In an August 2025 online lecture he said: "We all want a khalifa, we all want the Islamic state... But, by Allah, the first thing we must do if we truly want the Islamic state or sharia is to leave this country", and "Abu Hamza, they say, 'You are an extremist.' I know, I am an extremist."
MyCentre received $393,000 from the Victorian Government (2023-24 budget) for a Centre for Muslim Women's Wellbeing, and two federal grants recorded on GrantConnect to Multicultural Youth Centre Ltd: $68,136.20 (Home Affairs, Community Language Schools, GA379577) and $5,000 (Volunteer Grants, GA311169, June 2023) - $73,136.20 in total. In an August 2025 video titled "We are not for sale" he said: "politicians offer you grants to buy you, to buy your silence... we have some people in our community that have been bought". After the Bondi attack he condemned the gunmen: "I wish you hell". In October 2026 the UAE Attorney-General said flydubai co-pilot Hammam Al-Hammami, accused of trying to hijack flight FZ1073 on 30 September 2026, had become radicalised while studying in Melbourne and had met individuals associated with MyCentre, run by "a man known as Abu Hamza". Mohtadi said he had "never met" Al-Hammami and had "consistently preached peace"; neither he nor MyCentre is accused of any wrongdoing, and Australian authorities said they were investigating the co-pilot's links to Australia (ABC).
After the UAE allegations, Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke told News24 (11 October 2026) he did not have more information on MyCentre's federal funding; the department said it runs due-diligence checks on grant eligibility. In Victoria, Liberal MP Jade Benham questioned Multicultural Affairs Minister Ingrid Stitt at parliamentary estimates about state funding for MyCentre, saying Mohtadi "is on the record of saying some very ugly things" (Australian Jewish News).
Affiliations
IISNA (Islamic Information and Services Network of Australasia) - leader
Abu Hamza (Samir Mohtadi), sermon: 'The mujahideen in Gaza have lifted our heads. We are walking around with honor because of them.' (via Tabrizi compilation; video)
Abu Hamza (Samir Mohtadi), sermon: 'My beloved brothers and sisters in Palestine, you are fighting our war... I want to send this clear message from Melbourne, Australia... you are going to be victorious' (via Tabrizi compilation; video)
The Australian (Mohammad Alfares): 9 Jun 2025 sermon expose; 27 Aug 2025 khalifa lecture; 16 Dec 2025 Bondi condemnation; 10 Oct 2026 flydubai - copies held
GrantConnect - GA379577, Multicultural Youth Centre Ltd, Community Language Schools grant, $68,136.20 (approved 19 Mar 2024, varied 3 Dec 2025)
The Evidence Project is an independent, investigative timeline archive — every case, every document, every date, laid out in order so the full picture is there to see. Each entry links through to primary sources, footage, and documents so nothing here rests on our word alone.
We are not aligned with any political party, movement, or side. We hold every figure and organisation on this site to the same standard of evidence, regardless of who they are or what they believe — not because we're neutral on the issues, but because the facts, once verified, don't need us to take a side for them.
A note on what this site is — and isn't
Inclusion here documents a verified event, connection, or statement on the public record. It is not an accusation, and it does not imply guilt, association, or wrongdoing beyond what the cited sources themselves establish. Where a claim is contested, unconfirmed, or needs context for fairness, we say so.
What this is about: a small network of individuals and organisations who promote extremism, and the institutions that funded, platformed or overlooked them. It is not about Muslims. Most Muslim Australians reject these views, and many have spoken out against them at real cost to themselves. They are part of the solution.
This site exists so people can read, learn, and reach their own conclusions — not so it can be used as ammunition against anyone. Do not use it to harass, threaten or target anyone, whether a person named here, their family, or any community. If you're looking for a reason to target someone, you won't find it built into this site; you'll only find the record, and what you do with it is on you.
This is a conversation Australia needs to have, and we welcome that conversation.
If we got something wrong, tell us and show us the source — we'll check it and correct it publicly. Tips and documents are welcome too: contact@evidenceproject.au
