A political advocacy group in search of to mobilise Muslim Australians earlier than the following election says it’ll elevate the neighborhood’s voice on non-faith points together with playing and home violence, alongside Israel’s struggle in Gaza.
On Sunday afternoon Muslim Votes Matter, a new grassroots group, launched its nationwide marketing campaign within the lead-up to subsequent yr’s federal election on the Broadmeadows city corridor, within the federal seat of Calwell, the place it plans to again candidates.
The group is planning to marketing campaign in 32 federal seats – the bulk Labor-held – with a major Muslim inhabitants.
Whereas it won’t run candidates or present monetary sources, Muslim Votes Matter will again candidates whose values align with its priorities and can produce how-to-vote playing cards to distribute at polling cubicles. It says these will probably be primarily based on an eight-point standards it’ll assess candidates towards, which can embody their place on the struggle in Gaza.
Ghaith Krayem, a member of Muslim Votes Matter’s nationwide staff, instructed the gang of about 300 folks it was “unashamedly a group of Muslims” and would search to have interaction its neighborhood on non-faith points.
“Within our faith, we have valuable insights to share … There’s a debate going right now about gambling,” he mentioned. “Where is our voice? Why aren’t we out there engaging in that discussion about gambling?
“We have important issues to talk about. Gambling, alcohol, drug addiction, domestic violence. We are Muslims and we’re going to talk about those issues which are important to all of the society.”
Krayem, a former president of the Islamic Council of Victoria and chief govt of the Australian Federation of Islamic Council, mentioned individuals who attended the group’s classes throughout Australia had constantly mentioned, “Just tell us who to vote for.”
Among the many 32 seats Muslim Votes Matter are aiming to focus on are Wills – the place the Greens are hoping to grab the Labor-held seat, Calwell – held by the retiring Labor MP Maria Vamvakinou and Watson – held by the house affairs minister, Tony Burke.
The group’s goal seats additionally embody Fowler – held by the unbiased Dai Le – and Liberal-held Banks and Mitchell.
Samantha Ratnam, the Greens candidate for Wills and the celebration’s former Victorian chief, was amongst these in attendance on Sunday.
Nail Aykan, the founding father of Muslim Voices of Calwell, instructed the launch the shift away from the 2 main events in Australia meant there “had never been a better time for Muslim Australians to flex their political muscle and be counted”.
“The influence of Muslim voters in key safe seats, predominantly Labor seats, is becoming more apparent and will become hotly contested,” he mentioned.
He argued there have been quite a few deserves of a hung-parliament, saying electing independents and minor events would ship a message to the incumbent authorities to “not get complacent” and “not take Muslim Australians for granted.”
Dr Naser Alziyadat, Victoria’s state lead for Muslim Votes Matter, instructed the viewers that the UK election, the place the Labour celebration misplaced 4 seats to unbiased candidates, regardless of its thumping majority, confirmed the Australian group’s goals have been achievable.
Muslim Votes Matter, and a separate grassroots group the Muslim Vote – which plans to again unbiased candidates on the election – have been on the centre of fierce political debate because the Western Australian senator Fatima Payman’s dramatic exit from the Labor celebration.
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Anthony Albanese mentioned Australia shouldn’t go down “the road of faith-based political parties”, arguing it could undermine social cohesion. The opposition chief, Peter Dutton, has warned towards “a minority government with the Greens, the green teals and Muslim independents”.
Krayem instructed the viewers the group was not centered on isolating Muslim Australians.
“We are not causing division. We’re bringing a community into the public debate, into the political arena.”
In an interview earlier than the launch occasion, Krayem instructed Guardian Australia the group – which he estimated has 1,000 members, together with non-Muslim – would dwelling in on eight to 12 seats for focused campaigning nearer to the election.
Whereas declining to stipulate the group’s eight-point standards for backing candidates, he mentioned this included a place on the struggle in Gaza: “Gaza isn’t an issue. Gaza is a cause.”
Krayem mentioned the group’s different points would “become very clear” because it ramped up its public messaging.
The Australian authorities has referred to as for an “immediate humanitarian ceasefire” in Gaza since December and voted on the UN in Could 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 kept away from 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.
Krayem mentioned the group, which had beforehand been self-funded, had begun accepting neighborhood donations.
