By I. Hansana, Jadetimes News
Muslim Votes Matter Criticizes Labor Over Alleged Neglect of Islamic Community
Muslim Votes Matter, a new organization aimed at mobilizing Australian Muslims for the next federal election, has rebuked what it describes as “almost farcical” attempts to undermine its movement, asserting that the Labor government is “clearly afraid.” Ghaith Krayem, a spokesperson for the group, emphasized that despite criticisms from politicians and the media, the initiative is “inclusive” and aims to enhance representation for minority groups in Australia.
“There are hundreds of volunteers nationally, not just from Muslim backgrounds but also from other minority groups marginalized by our government for years,” Krayem told Guardian Australia. Krayem, the former head of the Islamic Council of Victoria and former CEO of the Australian Federation of Islamic Councils, stated that Muslim Votes Matter is “independently funded,” though he did not disclose donation details.
The organization is distinct from The Muslim Vote but plans to collaborate on shared objectives with other groups, he said. Both groups have been embroiled in political controversy following Labor senator Fatima Payman’s decision to support the immediate recognition of Palestine as a state, which led to her resignation from the party two weeks ago.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese warned against faith based political parties, suggesting they could undermine social cohesion. Opposition leader Peter Dutton cautioned against a minority government influenced by groups such as the Greens and Muslim independents. The Australian Financial Review editorialized that political Islam could erode Australia’s secular democratic foundations.
In response, Krayem clarified that Muslim Votes Matter is not a political party, is not aligned with any party, and will not field candidates in the upcoming federal election. Its mission is to advocate on issues important to the community and to increase political engagement and voting participation.
Recent accusations of fearmongering around ‘political Islam’ are “almost farcical” and reveal the group's significant influence, Krayem said. He asserted that Australian Muslims, like all citizens, have the right and duty to participate in politics, and depicting this negatively undermines democratic values.
Krayem described the organization as a national, grassroots effort born from community concerns over the underrepresentation of Muslim and minority groups in Australia. He noted that while the Muslim community is one of the fastest growing minorities, it remains grossly underrepresented in government.
The community has faced decades of Islamophobia and ineffective racial vilification laws, he added. The Gaza conflict and the broader issue of Palestine are driving the campaign, but the initiative seeks to uplift minority representation nationwide.
Krayem accused the Labor Party of taking Muslim and minority votes for granted for too long, vowing that “changes now.” Since March, Muslim Votes Matter has published scorecards evaluating MPs on their positions regarding Gaza, including calls for a ceasefire and condemnation of war crimes by Israel.
Despite some politicians requesting updates to their scorecards based on public comments, Krayem insisted that parliamentary statements are the most reliable indicators of their positions.
The Muslim Vote, also contacted for comment, has indicated plans to support independent candidates in certain electorates. Employment Minister Tony Burke acknowledged the frustration within the community over Gaza but denied taking his seat for granted.
The Australian government has called for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza and supported enhancing the Palestinian diplomatic mission's status at the UN. However, it has stopped short of recognizing Palestine independently, instead linking it to a peace process, and has balanced its stance by recognizing Israel’s right to self defense while urging compliance with international law. The UK’s recent election saw Labour losing four seats to pro Palestinian independents, highlighting the rising influence of such platforms in Western democracies.
