A Coalition candidate who belongs to an obscure religious community had an apprehended violence order taken out against him by a fellow member of his flock.

Adam Farhan is the Liberal candidate for the western Sydney seat of Fowler and also a leading figure in Australia's Sabaean Mandaean community.

Members of the Mandaean community perform a ceremony in the Nepean River, Sydney. Credit:Wolter Peeters

Fairfax Media can reveal a fellow Mandaean secured an interim AVO against Mr Farhan in July 2014. The complaint was heard in Liverpool Local Court a few weeks later but was promptly thrown out.