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A regional NSW Islamic school whose principal once shared social media posts stating “Zionists should burn in the pits of hellfire” has seven days to prove its leader is “fit and proper” or risk being shut down.
New Madinah College in Young has until January 19 to provide evidence its principal, Sheikh Abdulghani Albaf, meets fit and proper requirements or the state’s schools regulator will consider cancelling the school’s registration.
Abdulghani Albaf, the principal of New Madinah College.Credit:
According to its website, New Madinah College teaches children the Koran, Arabic and fundamental Islamic values as well as core subjects.
The NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) last January became aware of comments allegedly made by Albaf on his personal social media accounts over several years.
In one post shared in December 2023, prior to his appointment, Albaf described Zionists as “absolutely worse than Nazis. The zionist terrorist regime is more devilish, evil and atrocious than any other terrorist in history.”
In 2024 he shared another status, stating: “May Allah destroy the Zionist terrorist regime”.
While the majority of posts were made before Albaf’s appointment to the school in 2024, NESA monitored the school due to its history of inconsistent compliance with registration requirements.
NESA requires the school to address its compliance issues, which could include removing an individual from their position.
In mid-2025, while Albaf was principal, he made another post, prompting NESA to issue a show cause notice to the chair of New Madinah College’s board about the conduct of the school’s principal.
NESA was asked to provide examples of the post but was unable to do so due to an ongoing investigation. It confirmed the post triggered the show cause notice.
“As is the case for all schools, there is no tolerance for non-compliance with registration requirements, including the expectation that all responsible persons meet fit and proper requirements,” a NESA spokesperson said in a statement.
In a letter written in January 2025, the chair of the Young Muslim Association and chair of New Madinah College, Mohammed Barghachoun, defended Albaf’s record.
“Sheikh Abdulghani has consistently met all the necessary criteria for his position, including holding a valid Working with Children Check and maintaining a clear police record,” Barghachoun said.
He said the principal’s posts did not reflect his current conduct or values and has “shown no signs of racism or hatred”.
Referring to the posts made in 2023, Barghachoun said the principal’s comments should be “understood in the context of his personal life” before joining the school, and that it was inappropriate to “hold him accountable for actions or statements made prior to his employment”.
Acting education minister Courtney Houssos directed NESA to strengthen its “fit and proper person” requirements for principals.
“This will ensure that unacceptable conduct does not go unchecked, as the community rightly expects,” Houssos said. “NSW schools must be welcoming places for everyone.”
The Herald contacted Albaf, New Madinah College and the Islamic Schools Association of Australia for comment.
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