https://web.archive.org/web/20151116125250/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-11-16/new-australian-muslim-party-confident-of-election-run/6946152 (because archive.is is being a piece of shit right now)
A political party representing Australian Muslims has been launched, with its sights set on winning a Senate seat at the next election.
Western Sydney man Diaa Mohamed has unveiled The Australian Muslim Party, and is confident of signing up the 500 members needed to allow it to register for the Senate ballot paper.
He told AM the party would provide a platform for his community on the national political stage, after criticism that "Muslims were not loud enough" in the public debate.
"Maybe it is because we didn't know how, or we were a bit too fragmented, so hopefully this will at least give us that opportunity," Mr Mohamed said.
Mr Mohamed also defended the decision to launch the party in the wake of the Paris terrorist attacks, revealing he and his supporters almost called off the launch.
"We gave it some thought," he said.
"There are going to be a lot of questions raised in the coming days of the events recently, and this is the whole reason we created this party.
"So it is as good a time as any to launch it."
He said the party was also formed in response to growing political activism against Islam.
"Four or five anti-Islamic parties are being created and we thought we need to do something to address that," Mr Mohamed said.
One of those anti-Islam parties is the recently launched Love Australia or Leave party, founded by Townsville-based Kim Vuga — a former star of the SBS reality TV show Go Back To Where You Came From.
She too is gathering signatures to register the party and contest a Senate spot at the next election.
Ms Vuga said she was not aware of plans to launch the Australian Muslim Party.
"We do have freedom and democracy in our country, however I think that is going to shock quite a few people," she said.
>pic related: yfw