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I don’t know whether to laugh or quietly curse in disappointment.
On the one hand, the first explicit attempt to leverage sectarian politics in Australia in half a century is allegedly imploding. On the other, a potentially fatal wedge against the Labor party is imploding.
I’m talking, of course, about shadowy activist group The Muslim Vote.
In a shock turn of events, it turns out that Muslims are in-fighting. Why, such a thing hasn’t happened since Ali and Abu Bakr both said, “Muhammad liked me best!”
The fledgling Muslim Vote campaign risks “imploding”, with divisions widening within the group and among the community amid delays in locking in candidates and claims of infiltration by ALP operatives.
Community leaders have said the group had “bitten off more than it could chew”, and Canberra sources have described its leaders as “passionate” but “politically naive”, destined to lose against Labor incumbents without a change of tack.
Other top Muslim leaders have said while the campaign was “fumbling” and its political strength “overplayed”, “cooler heads” had emerged and discussions were changing on what strategy was best ahead of an election.
Or they’ve realised that they’ve over-played their hand and revealed what’s in store for Australia sooner than they intended. Oopsie, back to the ‘coexist’ narrative for now, brothers.
They said the community was in a “lose-lose” situation and The Muslim Vote’s existence showed it was formally engaging in democracy.
By which they mean, weaponising the institutions of the gullible West against us. Again.
Sheikh Wesam Charkawi, who established and has led the movement since December, said in the week of senator Fatima Payman’s resignation to expect candidates in “days”. The campaign, however, has struggled to tie down those it would endorse in its prized targets of Blaxland and Watson, asking supporters on Monday to refill candidacy forms to help the process.
Prominent Muslim community figures, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said the group’s propulsion into the public eye during Senator Payman’s resignation had ramped up the pressure, but candidates were unlikely to be high profile.
“It is likely to be someone no one has heard of,” one said.
Because everyone we’ve heard of is the sort of raving nutjob given to shrieking that they’re “elated” at the worst massacre of Jews since the Holocaust, or arguing over the correct Islamic way to beat your wife. Shh, not while the kuffar are listening, brothers.
No formal Muslim group has endorsed or played a role within the movement, and the Australian understands that there are concerns as to the best way electorally to advocate for Palestine.
Which begs the same question as must be put to Payman and her ilk: who, exactly, do they represent? The people of Australia, or of Gaza?
It also looks as if the Muslim Vote was outdone in sheer rat cunning by Labor. Who have, after all, had over 130 years to finely hone the art of sheer political bastardry.
Sources alleged that The Muslim Vote has also inadvertently welcomed into the fold “ALP spies”, local card-carrying activists who had filtered updates back to HQ during Senator Payman’s suspension and resignation.
It was partly how the Albanese government was able to brief journalists on the role of “preference whisperer” Glenn Druery and quickly spin that Senator Payman’s exit had long been orchestrated, allegedly with The Muslim Vote’s involvement.
“(The Muslim Vote) came together so fast, how could they vet everyone,” one person reflected, admitting it was “politically naive” to call for candidates as Senator Payman was suspended, giving the government further fuel.
“You can’t take on the ALP like this, you’ll lose.”
After all, Labor have learned from the best: their paymasters in Beijing.
As always, though, glass-jawed Islamic whinging is the go-to excuse. Why is everyone picking on us? complain the guys who chanted “Gas the Jews” and set off fireworks to celebrate mass murder and rape.
“If the community doesn’t take part it’s called isolationist; when it does it’s criticised.”
The Australian
They were criticised for peddling religion in politics and leveraging sectarian division. But separating religion from politics just isn’t in Islam’s DNA.
And, in the end, far better to defeat the hapless Albanese government on its own lack of merit, than revive sectarian politics. The enemy of our enemy is not our friend.
