Dr Imran Syed with Labor leader Bill Shorten. Dr Syed, who hadn't been informed of his removal when contacted by Fairfax Media, confirmed he had been recently contacted by the ALP about his "inflammatory" online activity. He said the ALP was attempting to stifle free speech and was being racist. The controversy could raise headaches for Opposition Leader Bill Shorten. An ALP source told Fairfax Media that Dr Syed's online activity was not appropriate for a federal candidate, but also said he had been given no training or support by Labor.

Imran Syed with Labor's finance spokesman Chris Bowen. The source said the party had not bothered to check on Dr Syed's views on foreign policy before pre-selecting him in September. Former Labor candidate for Murray, Dr Imran Syed. Mr Syed told Fairfax Media that he stood by his support online for those attacking the US and British government's foreign policy. "Millions of innocent civilians are being butchered because of irresponsible foreign policy.

"This is what people are saying all over the world. I have every right to share what I believe." Dr Syed, an AFL Multicultural Community Ambassador since 2014, said that the ALP's treatment of him showed that a "dark man" in Australia didn't have a right to voice his opinion. "We have to be blind, deaf and dumb," he said. Last year, Dr Syed was appointed as ALP Vice-President for the Shepparton District. He was pre-selected for the seat of Murray, which is held by the Liberal's Sharman Stone with a 20.9 per cent majority, in September.

Dr Syed had been cautioned several times about his use of social media by senior officials at Victorian Labor's head office. His posts are heavily critical of Israel and it's relationship with the west. The posts also attack the bombing of Syria and other Arab states by the US and Britain, and linking those attacks to a rise in radical Islam. The electorate of Murray in northern Victoria. Credit:Australian Electoral Commission

Dr Syed also labelled calls from within the federal Liberal party by MP Andrew Hastie for Islam to change as "barking" from "a clown." He called former British prime minister Tony Blair a "Mentally Retarded Clown high on Pure Afghan Poppy" Labor's powerful administration committee on Thursday night moved to dis-endorse him – party officers will now make a final decision after reviewing the posts. Opposition Leader Bill Shorten said "There is no place in Labor for these sorts of intolerant views." ALP assistant state secretary Kosmos Samaras denied the party was racist.

"You only have to take a look at the state caucus to see that the party is made of up of people from various backgrounds and religious faiths, including the Islamic faith," Mr Samaras said. "The party had a number of conversations about his comments on social media. "Unfortunately the ex-candidate did not heed this advice and has been dis-endorsed."