Kamala Harris’s Muslim failure a warning for Albanese’s Labor

The Muslim community’s abandonment of the US Democrats over the party’s stance on Gaza gives Anthony Albanese a glimpse of what Labor could face.

Australian Lebanese Muslims seen praying at Sydney’s Lakemba Mosque. Picture: Jeremy Piper

The Muslim community’s abandonment of the US Democrats over the party’s stance on Gaza gives Anthony Albanese a glimpse of what Labor could face at next year’s election as centre-left governments grapple with a political realignment.

But one prominent leader has said that while the community’s political engagement was a positive development, the domestic electoral situation meant that Australian Muslims needed to ensure any protest vote did not inadvertently propel Peter Dutton to The Lodge.

Donald Trump’s election win appeared built on cost-of-living disillusionment, but frustration and low turnout among America’s Muslim community, particularly in swing-state Michigan, harmed Kamala Harris’s chances.

In Michigan, polling indicated a shift away from the Democrats among Muslim and Arab-Americans, with community leaders urging a vote instead for Jill Stein’s Greens or abstention, given anger with the Biden government’s support of Israel.

Mr Trump’s “anti-war” messaging garnered support and he is projected to win Michigan by a margin of less than 100,000 votes.

In next year’s federal election, Labor will battle to retain its southwest Sydney heartlands amid the emergence of The Muslim Vote and Muslim Votes Matter groups, and pro-Palestine independents.

A Michigan Muslim American casts her vote at in Tuesday’s US election. Picture: Getty

MVM national spokesman Naser Alziyadat said that the Democrats’ foreign policy stance, particularly on Gaza, “caused significant disillusionment” with American Muslims who “exercised their right” to make their concerns known at the ballot box.

“This sends a signal to parties everywhere that they must respect and address these issues or risk losing support,” he said.

“If parties fail to address the ­issues that matter to our community they risk facing similar consequences (in Australia) as we’ve seen in the US and the UK. This is about building a respectful, accountable relationship between communities and those who represent them.”

MVM will wait until nominations are closed to endorse candidates, but Dr Alziyadat said politics was “evolving” as communities demanded greater ­accountability and representation, shown by the British and American elections.

“Political engagement today is more values-driven and responsive to real issues, rather than loyal to party lines,” he said.

“The impact of these movements, including MVM, signals that the Muslim community is ­increasingly aware of its political influence and is prepared to exercise it strategically.”

In Watson and Blaxland, TMV-backed independents Ziad Basyouny and Ahmed Ouf are attempting to topple ministers Tony Burke and Jason Clare, respectively.

Vice President Kamala Harris failed to get the traditionally Democrat-leaning Muslim community out to vote in key urban areas. Picture: Getty

Dr Basyouny said that the US election showed that “certain communities, not limited to Muslim voters” would no longer overlook foreign policy issues that “deeply impacted” them.

“Governments cannot afford to be tone-deaf to human rights violations, and voters are now more informed, connected, and motivated to make their voices heard,” he said, adding that party support would not be “blindly given” and that marginalised communities were now better equipped politically.

Dr Basyouny warned the Prime Minister to acknowledge “growing sentiment” against what many in the community saw as a weak stance against Israel, saying he should expect to be “held accountable” at the ballot box if concerns were not allayed.

“The Muslim community — and others who stand for justice — are showing they will no longer be sidelined on issues that matter to them,” he said, adding that the two main parties had taken certain communities and their votes “for granted”.

“... Parties should recognise that communities will stand behind leaders who demonstrate empathy, courage and fairness. They will withdraw support from those who don’t.”

TMV convener Wesam Charkawi previously told The Australian “the horse has bolted … things (politics) will never be the same again”.

His organisation will launch its national campaign this month, including an address from Ibrahim Dadoun, who has been criticised for saying October 7 ­was a “day of courage”.

Lebanese Muslim Association secretary Gamel Kheir, speaking in a personal capacity, said the community’s “positive” political engagement should be celebrated.

Independent Watson candidate Ziad Basyouny. Picture: Nikki Short

Independent Blaxland candidate Ahmed Ouf. Picture: Jeremy Piper

He said that no issue had united a community like Gaza, adding that doubters must be “living in a cocoon” if they thought what happened at the British and American elections wouldn’t happen at ­Australia’s poll.

“(The community’s engagement) is something we should be celebrating, it indicates that multiculturalism works … Muslims in every (democracy) have started to integrate with the process,” Mr Kheir said.

He accused Mr Dutton of ­“fuelling the fire” of extremism with an “empathy failure”, but called for political “caution” given a protest vote could allow the ­Coalition to gain government.

“As angry as we are with what’s happening in Gaza, we need to be cautious with how we step if (a protest vote) ends up with Dutton (in power),” Mr Kheir said.

“Because if we end up with a Dutton government, that serves us (the community, Palestine) less benefit.”

The community is divided about the best political steps, shown by the emergence of the Friends of Burke movement, spearheaded by Jamal Rifi, who has pledged to campaign for Mr Burke and Mr Clare

He has lauded the pair’s “pro-Palestine credentials”, adding that Australian Muslims would be ­better served with a “seat at the table” rather than independent backbenchers.

RedBridge Group director Kos Samaras said it was clear that pockets of the Muslim community, and younger voters who saw Palestine as a key issue, failed to turn out for the Democrats in the US election.

“(Its) traditional constituencies didn’t turn up for her like they did for Biden (in 2020),” the former Labor strategist said.

He said it was “pretty clear” that Muslim political movements were having “minor and major” electoral outcomes across Western democracies.

“(In Australia) Labor seats will come under a lot of pressure and (the party) will have to divert resources that it would have normally used in divisions at risk from the Coalition,“ Mr Samaras said, adding that he wouldn’t yet rule out a “Fowler-like upset” in places like Watson, Blaxland or Calwell.