00:07A day after the October 7th Hamas attacks, Sheikh Ibrahim Dadun addressed a large crowd
00:14in Lakemba.
00:14I'm smiling and I'm happy.
00:18I'm elated.
00:19And it was these comments that brought swift condemnation from political leaders.
00:32Sheikh Dadun is a member and former director of the Australian National Imams Council.
00:37Appearing at the Royal Commission, its president said the comments were inappropriate.
00:42We spoke to him.
00:43He was very cooperative.
00:45He knew that it was a mistake to use that language and the killing of innocent people
00:51must not be condoned in any way, in any form, in any shape.
00:55The commission was told the Australian National Imams Council asked Sheikh Dadun to clarify
01:00his position publicly after being counselled about the speech.
01:04He did so in a Facebook post the following day, but Sheikh Al Suleiman conceded it did
01:10not include an apology.
01:11We don't have authority over what the Imams do or say, but we do our best to make sure
01:17that Imams are responsible in what they say.
01:20The senior imam also emphasised ongoing ties with Jewish leaders in the wake of the Bondi
01:26Beach terror attack.
01:27We stood shoulder to shoulder by the Jewish community post Bondi.
01:31We visited them, we engaged with them.
01:33The commission is expected to hear from further Muslim leaders next week.
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