One of many new organisations searching for to mobilise Australian Muslims on the subsequent federal election has hit again at “almost farcical” makes an attempt to discredit the motion, insisting the Labor authorities is “clearly afraid”.
Ghaith Krayem, a spokesperson for Muslim Votes Matter, mentioned regardless of criticism from main get together politicians and media, the motion was an “inclusive initiative that hopes to uplift representation for minority groups across the country”.
“There are hundreds of volunteers who have put their hands up nationally to join our movement and not just from Muslim backgrounds, but from minority groups who have been marginalised by our government for years,” Krayem advised Guardian Australia.
Krayem, a former head of the Islamic Council of Victoria and former CEO of the Australian Federation of Islamic Councils, mentioned Muslim Votes Matter was “independently funded” however he didn’t disclose particulars of donations obtained to this point.
It was separate from one other group, The Muslim Vote, however they might “collaborate on common objectives, just as we would with any other group that has common interests with us”, he mentioned.
Each Muslim Votes Matter and The Muslim Vote have been on the centre of fierce political debate after the Labor senator Fatima Payman crossed the ground to help the fast recognition of Palestine as a state. She give up the get together two weeks in the past.
Within the wake of these developments, the prime minister, Anthony Albanese, mentioned Australia shouldn’t “go down the road of faith-based political parties, because what that will do is undermine social cohesion”.
The opposition chief, Peter Dutton, particularly warned in opposition to “a minority government with the Greens, the green teals and Muslim independents”.
In the meantime, the Australian Monetary Assessment argued in an editorial that “the rise of political Islam as in the UK would undermine the secular liberal democratic foundations of modern Australia”.
‘Fearmongering’
Responding to those feedback, Krayem mentioned Muslim Votes Matter was not a political get together, was not aligned to any get together, and wouldn’t be operating candidates within the subsequent federal election.
Its overarching goal was “to provide political advocacy on matters significant to our community and to increase voting literacy and participation”.
“Recent attempts made by both the media and MPs including the prime minister to fearmonger the idea of ‘political Islam’ is almost farcical and demonstrates that we are in fact a force to be reckoned with,” Krayem mentioned.
“Muslims in Australia, like all Australians, have not just the right but also the obligation to engage and participate in the political processes of this country. To paint this as a negative is disappointing and goes against this country’s democratic values.”
Krayem described Muslim Votes Matter as “a national, independent and grassroots organisation developed in response to community sentiment around the lack of representation of both Muslim and minority groups in Australia”.
He mentioned the Muslim neighborhood was “among the fastest-growing minority groups in Australia” however remained “grossly underrepresented at all levels of government”.
“Our community has had to endure violent, aggressive Islamophobia for decades and racial vilification laws have done little to protect Australian Muslims,” Krayem mentioned.
“The ongoing genocide in Gaza and broader issue of Palestine is one critical issue driving our campaign, but ours is an inclusive initiative that hopes to uplift representation for minority groups across the country.”
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He mentioned the Labor get together had “taken Muslim and minority votes for granted” for too lengthy, however “that changes now”.
Since March, Muslim Votes Matter has printed scorecards assessing MPs in numerous electorates in opposition to a variety of standards, together with whether or not they have known as for an “immediate and sustained ceasefire” and “condemned war crimes committed by Israel in Gaza by name” and “called for a lift to the 16-year illegal blockade on Gaza”.
Controversially, the group solely assesses MPs in opposition to statements they’ve made in parliament, not speeches or media interviews carried out outdoors the chamber.
Krayem revealed that “a number of politicians have recently requested updates to their scorecards after they appeared to make seemingly more supportive comments on Gaza publicly”.
However he vowed to retain the unique scorecards, arguing feedback made in parliament have been “the best gauge of their position”.
“Our objective remains clear, and dogged tactics by overzealous leaders and media do nothing to dissuade us.”
The opposite new group, The Muslim Vote, was additionally contacted for remark. It has beforehand mentioned it’s not a political get together however has flagged plans to again impartial candidates in seats equivalent to Tony Burke’s western Sydney voters of Watson.
Burke, the employment minister, advised the ABC’s Insiders program on Sunday he by no means took his seat with no consideration, however acknowledged “genuine sentiment in the community of deep frustration that they want our position with respect to Gaza to be stronger”.
The Australian authorities has known as for an “immediate humanitarian ceasefire” in Gaza since December.
Australia additionally voted on the UN in Might to boost the standing of the Palestinian diplomatic mission, however has mentioned it’s open to recognising Palestine solely as a part of a peace course of.
It has shunned labelling the bombardment of Gaza as genocide and has acknowledged Israel’s proper to self-defence after the Hamas assaults, whereas urging it to adjust to worldwide regulation.
Regardless of Keir Starmer’s Labour get together successful a thumping majority within the UK election on 4 July, it additionally misplaced 4 seats to impartial candidates standing on an explicitly pro-Palestinian platform. The UK has a “first past the post” system moderately than Australia’s preferential voting system.
