The first Muslim woman to wear a hijab in federal parliament was forced to cancel a planned iftar dinner featuring her Labor colleagues after pushback from the West Australian Islamic community.
Labor WA Senator Fatima Payman’s March 23 Iftar fundraising dinner boasted “special guests” in attendance including Perth MP and assistant minister to the prime minister, Patrick Gorman, and state Labor members.
Senator Fatima Payman has been forced to cancel an Iftar fundraising dinner.Credit: Trevor Collens
Gorman’s planned presentation at the dinner dismayed WA Islamic leaders, who wrote to Payman to vent their frustrations over her party’s response to the Gaza conflict and urged her to cancel it.
A letter sent on February 19 by WA-based Arabian Heritage Association president Naser Alziyadat and vice president Gehad Hasanien accused federal Labor of failing to take a resolute stand against the conflict.
Much of their criticism was levelled at Gorman for not supporting ceasefire motions introduced by Greens MPs in federal parliament.
“We must express our profound disappointment regarding your invitation to the Iftar Dinner 2024, which does not align with the expectations of our community members,” they said.
“One of your ‘Special Guests’ is Hon Patrick Gorman, who, along with four MPs from WA, voted against a ceasefire in Gaza, practically supporting the ongoing genocide in Gaza and allowing the continuation of killing of innocent civilians.
“We urge you to cancel the event out of respect for the 19,000 orphans in Gaza and the thousands who have lost one parent ... your decision to cancel would demonstrate solidarity with the oppressed and uphold the principles of justice and humanity that our community holds dear.”
WA Senator Fatima Payman’s cancelled Iftar dinner.
Alziyadat and Hasanien also took aim at the Albanese government’s decision to pause funding from the United Nations Relief and Works Agency after Israel alleged some members of the agency were involved in the Hamas attack on October 7.
Payman confirmed she had received several letters from prominent Muslim community groups and individuals and obliged their requests to cancel the dinner.
She will instead host a “Feast with Friends” Labor fundraising dinner outside of Ramadan on April 20.
“As a federal representative, I take my duty to listen to West Australians very seriously and I appreciate them reaching out to raise their concerns with me,” Payman said.
“Cancelling the event in this instance was the right thing to do.”
Payman will attend several other iftar dinners organised by community groups.
Muslim groups across the country are ramping up pressure on Labor governments at both state and federal levels.
Last week, the Victorian Labor government cancelled the annual premier’s Iftar dinner after receiving a similar letter signed by more than 110 Muslim community groups.
Gaza health officials say more than 30,000 Palestinians have been killed since the Israeli military began its campaign in response to Hamas’ October 7 attack on southern Israel. The Israeli government says more than 1400 of its citizens have been killed.
Payman has been an outspoken voice against Israel’s response to the October 7 attacks.
Following a Labor motion in October backing Israel’s right to defend itself from Hamas’ attacks, she made a statement that it should not mean the destruction of Palestine.
She also stood alongside Greens MPs at parliament in November as they received petitions calling for an immediate ceasefire.
Federal Labor MPs’ offices have been targeted by pro-Palestinian activists several times since the conflict began.
A “politics in the park” event hosted by Gorman last month was overtaken by protesters who questioned his party’s response to the conflict.
Gorman declined to comment.
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