https://au.news.yahoo.com/a/30113854/muslim-party-launched-in-wake-of-paris/

The founder of a new Islamic political party insists it'll bring Australians together amid concerns it could drive a wedge between Muslims and non-Muslims.

Diaa Mohamed says his Australian Muslim Party is about giving Muslims a platform to express themselves.

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten said it was important everyone had a say but raised concerns about bringing religion into politics.

"I don't necessarily want to see religion being a lighting rod for people being for or against a particular party," he told reporters in Cairns.

"I don't think that is going to help the debate about inclusion and multiculturalism."

Mr Mohamed rejected claims a party based on religion is divisive, insisting people of all faiths are welcome to join.

"There's a lot of parties out there that are religion-based, so I think it's a non-issue," Mr Mohamed told AAP on Tuesday.

He's also defended his decision to launch days after the deadly Paris terrorist attacks, insisting it had been planned weeks ago.

He'd contemplated calling off the launch on the weekend but thought it would be "insincere" to move it.

"Unless you're blaming all Muslims directly for what happened ... then it shouldn't sound insensitive at all," he said.

Senior government figure Christopher Pyne doubted a religious-based party would be very successful, saying Australia was a "secular, pluralist society".

"People can launch whatever political parties they choose ... as long as they comply with the law," he said.

Mr Mohamed said major parties were concerned with pushing their own agendas and toeing the party line.

Jill Sheppard, lecturer at the Australian National University's school of politics and international relations, said the new party would counter the recent rise in anti-immigration parties like the Rise Up Australia Party.

"This redresses that imbalance a little bit - the very loud anti-immigration voices tend to get more attention than they deserve," she said.

It could also help young Muslims feel more engaged with the community and politics, she said.

The party needs 500 members before it can be officially registered.

It intends to submit candidates in every state in the hope of winning a Senate seat at the next federal election.

Jovial Monk wrote on Nov 18^th, 2015 at 10:47pm:


Jovial

I am going to call anyone from the left a racist and/or an Islamophobic every time they raise the issue

This is me serving up humble pie. This is the only way you diminish lefties demonising and flood discussions with name calling

Lets have a proper debate rather than demonising people because they don't agree with you

Should I call a truce with the left? Happy to

I didn't see Shorten condemning the Christian Democrats for bringing religion into politics....Although I agree with his sentiment I fail to see why he only chose to comment on the Muslim Party???

Maqqa wrote on Nov 19^th, 2015 at 12:04am:


I don't think so....I think he is an opportunist who would take advantage of a tragedy to score cheep political points....Much in the vein of Tony Abbott and John Howard....And you for that matter!!!

Kat wrote on Nov 18^th, 2015 at 10:54pm:


From the OP Kat!!!

Quote:

philperth2010 wrote on Nov 19^th, 2015 at 12:41am:


AND loving it!! 

Armchair_Politician wrote on Nov 19^th, 2015 at 5:23am:


and there's the difference...

Islam is a way of life including Sharia Law..

everyone else fits into Australian law and the Australian way of life...

Maqqa wrote on Nov 18^th, 2015 at 10:52pm:

Moving away from reality doesn’t help.

A lot of the Right DOES demonise people, like the poor b*st*rds we have in our prison camps up north. In other words, the Right seems to be driven by xenophobia, no way to arrive at sensible policy.

Note I used prisons not concentration camps in the interest of moving to sensible debate.