LONDON, February 16 (IslamOnline.net) - The ruling Labor Party is blocking anti-Iraq invasion Muslim candidates from Parliament because they might "undermine" the party at the next general election, a letter from a party leader revealed.

A leaked letter from Trevor Phillips, the chairman of the Commission for Racial Equality (CRE), said that ethnic minority candidates feel they are being discriminated against, The Observer reported on Monday, February 16.

It was sent to the party chairman Ian McCartney on 4 February, and cited cases of two popular Muslim Labor members who were kept off the shortlist to fight a key marginal seat at the next election.

"I am writing to you privately to express my concern at the outcome of the Labor party's short listing process for this constituency," Phillips wrote.

Shahid Malik, who was against the U.S.-British invasion of Iraq, was the most popular among party members to fight the seat of Brent East, formerly held by Ken Livingstone.

Malik gained formerly the most votes of any male candidate in the nominations process.

Ashamed Shahzad, a well-known local figure and the deputy mayor, triumphed in more wards than any other male candidate.

Brent East will be one of Labour's most important seats at the next general election, said The Observer.

Formerly a stronghold, it was won by Sarah Teather for the Liberal Democrats in a by-election last year. She achieved a swing against Labor of 29 percent.

"Democracy within the Labor party has been dealt a very severe blow and those responsible should hang their heads in shame," Malik said in an earlier interview.

"I am very disappointed. I didn't expect this result," Shahzad added.

Phillips said that such actions is an evidence that the ethnic minority would feel discrimination by putting barriers as selection.

"This makes the outcome in Brent East all the more puzzling. The upshot of this is very straightforward; ethnic minority candidates will feel, and we have some evidence of this already, that whatever they do there will always be barriers presented at selection," he said.

The letter would provide difficulties to the Prime Minister Tony Blair, who has been dogged by allegations that he has not done enough to encourage black and Asian people into the House of Commons, said the British daily.

Labor has 12 black or Asian MPs, fewer than half the number expected if the proportions reflected the wider population.

"I am aware that you share my view that all the major political parties need to be more pro-active in promoting a more diverse mix of candidates at the next general election, in some ways success in doing this would be the sharpest reproach to the far right," the CRE chairman said.

"The absence of reasons given for the leading candidate's failure to be included on the short list will be seen by many within and outside the party as a direct example of the party's inability, or worse, reluctance to select a diverse mix of candidates," he concluded.