Former Guantanamo Bay detainee Mamdouh Habib and a handful of other Muslims will stand for election today in New South Wales - Australia's most populous state - hoping to secure the community a political voice. "One of the reasons we stepped forward is to confront racism head on and to confront Islamaphobia head on," said Kaysar Trad, spokesman for Sydney's Islamic Friendship Association. "We owe it to this nation to stand up to racists and make a positive political stand," Trad said.The Iraq war and comments about women, jihad and Jews by radical imams in Australia have inflamed tensions between Australia's small, mainly Sunni, Muslim community of some 280,000 people, and the rest of the country. During the election campaign, Christian Democrat leader Reverend Fred Nile called for a 10-year ban on Muslim immigrants to give priority to Christians fleeing persecution. He also called for a study of the effects of Muslim immigration.
Habib, with his slick-back hair and ponytail, aviator sunglasses and chain smoking, admits he is a political novice and stands little chance of victory in the election to the New South Wales parliament. On the steps of a Sydney shopping mall, microphone in hand, however, he pleaded emotionally against the Iraq war and for democracy. Habib is contesting the seat of Auburnin Sydney, an area with a large Muslim community, along with converts Silma Ihram and Malikeh Michaels. A fourth Muslim is a candidate in a neighbouring seat.