Labor ‘clearly afraid’ of backlash after taking Islamic community for granted, Muslim Votes Matter says

Ghaith Krayem of Muslim Votes Matter says recent fearmongering about ‘political Islam’ is disappointing and goes against Australia’s democratic values. Photograph: Carly Earl/The Guardian

One of the new organisations seeking to mobilise Australian Muslims at the next federal election has hit back at “almost farcical” attempts to discredit the movement, insisting the Labor government is “clearly afraid”.

Ghaith Krayem, a spokesperson for Muslim Votes Matter, said despite criticism from major party politicians and media, the movement was an “inclusive initiative that hopes to uplift representation for minority groups across the country”.