July 5th 2024.
Australian cricket star Usman Khawaja has spoken out against politician Peter Dutton for his comments about Muslim candidates potentially winning seats in the next federal election. Dutton, who is currently the opposition leader, expressed concerns about a Labor minority government forming alliances with Muslim independents and other crossbenchers, calling it a disaster.
Khawaja, who made history as the first Muslim to play cricket for Australia in 2011, called Dutton's comments disgraceful. In a post on his social media account, Khawaja, who grew up in Western Sydney, expressed his disappointment in someone running for prime minister spreading bigotry and fueling Islamophobia.
As a key member of the Australian men's Test team, Khawaja has not been afraid to voice his opinions on societal issues. He has previously spoken out against Israel's invasion of Gaza and even faced backlash from cricket's governing body for wearing shoes with messages promoting equality and human rights.
In response to Dutton's comments, the politician denied having any issue with religiously motivated political parties. He clarified that his concern lies with candidates who prioritize causes outside of Australia over the interests of their own country.
Currently, there are no Islamic members in parliament's crossbench, but the Muslim Vote collective has recently pledged to support candidates in certain seats in a teal-style campaign for the next election. The group emphasizes that it is not a religious campaign, but rather a political one aimed at ensuring that the interests of Australian Muslims are represented in the political arena.
This pledge came in light of the suspension, and subsequent resignation, of Senator Fatima Payman from the Labor party for supporting a Greens motion in favor of Palestinian recognition. With these developments, the upcoming election is shaping up to be a highly contested and diverse one.
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