Fatima Payman claims she has been ‘exiled’ for ignoring Labor’s position on a vote for Palestinian statehood and accuses colleagues of trying to intimidate her

An Australian senator has accused her colleagues of intimidation after she was suspended from the ruling Labor party’s parliamentary caucus following her vote for a motion to recognise a Palestinian state.

Afghanistan-born Fatima Payman, an outspoken opponent of the war in Gaza and defender of the Palestinian cause, last week ignored her party’s decision to oppose a Greens party motion. She was suspended on Sunday and, on Tuesday, the Labor caucus voted unanimously to endorse the decision.