Labor will have itself to blame if it loses western Sydney over Gaza issue, says Muslim Vote convener

Sheikh Wesam Charkawi says the ‘injustice’ in Gaza is ‘front and centre’ for the Muslim Vote, which has already amassed a volunteer base of more than 2,000 people. Photograph: Jessica Hromas/The Guardian

A new Muslim political movement backing independent candidates says Labor will have itself to blame if Peter Dutton wins the next election, and that people should not assume the candidates they support will preference Labor.

Sheikh Wesam Charkawi, one of the conveners behind the Muslim Vote movement, said the group would be aiming to support “at least five candidates” in New South Wales and Victoria.