Muslim Vote Matters to launch national campaign in Melbourne with advice from UK expert

An Australian political advocacy group aiming to mobilise Muslim voters in support of pro-Palestine candidates will seek strategic advice from a UK expert involved in a similar successful movement at the British elections.

An Australian political advocacy group aiming to mobilise Muslim voters in support of pro-Palestine candidates will seek strategic advice from a UK expert involved in a similar successful movement at the recent British elections.

The Muslim Votes Matter (MVM) will launch its national campaign in Melbourne on Sunday with presentations from a range of high-profile speakers including Dr Wajid Akhter from The Muslim Vote UK, and Muslim Women Australia chief Maha Abdo.

A profile of Dr Akhter provided by the group said he would “share the British election learnings with the Australian Muslim

community to inform strategy and success” at the launch.

Five independent pro-Palestine candidates won seats previously held by the UK Labour Party at the general election in July.

MVM is one of two grassroots groups in Australia hoping to emulate that success by backing candidates that align with its values and policy priorities.

It began earlier this year with a goal of driving “greater electorate participation and voting literacy” among Australian Muslim and minority communities, after what the group said were gaps in the current political landscape that had become “difficult to ignore”.

Dr. Wajid Akhter from The Muslim Vote UK will be speaking at the Muslim Vote Matters launch in Melbourne.

A separate organisation with similar aims called, The Muslim Vote, also formed this year operating out of Western Sydney.

MVM spokesman Dr Naser Alziyadat said described his organisation as “independent” and “grassroots” as well as “unaffiliated with any political party”.

“Our movement is dedicated to empowering the Australian Muslim and minority community to amplify our political voice,” he said.

Campaigners calling for an end to the war in Gaza hold a flag promoting Vaz Shabir, an independent candidate in the UK general election. Picture: Oli Scarff/AFP

“In saying that, the Muslim community is the largest and one of the fastest-growing minority groups in Australia. Our collective voting bloc holds significant potential.”

Dr Alziyadat said across Australia there were more than 20 seats where the Muslim community could have the “deciding vote”.

MVM national representative Ghaith Krayem said Muslims in Australia and abroad had been “grossly overlooked and undermined for decades thanks to mainstream media perpetuating Islamophobia”.

Muslim Women Australia CEO Maha Abdo will also speak at the launch event.

Independent candidate for the seat of Watson Dr Ziad Basyouny.

“But here in Australia, Muslims are your doctors, lawyers, professors,” he said.

“We are your teachers, and nurses, your community service providers, your social workers, your builders and even your truck drivers.”

Mr Krayem said united by the “injustice executed against our loved ones in Palestine” the new political movement was a “force to be reckoned with”.

Meanwhile Ms Abdo said there had been a “genuine lack of engagement with our community on issues impacting Australian Muslims beyond mere tokenism or to serve as a bureaucratic tick box exercise”.

“As a community elder, I have seen the frustration that builds when our voices go unheard, and I have felt the disappointment when promises are broken,” she said.

“But I have also seen the strength of our community, the resilience, the commitment to justice and the unwavering faith that guides us.”

Earlier this month, independent candidate Dr Ziad Basyouny announced he would challenge Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke for the safe Labor seat of Watson in Western Sydney.