Islam gaffe candidate withdraws from Australian election [WATCH]

During a one-on-one television interview, Stephanie Banister, 27, said: "I don't oppose Islam as a country, but I do feel that their laws should not be welcome here in Australia."

Following the interview, Banister was widely mocked and was forced to withdraw her candidature 48 hours after entering the fray.

Banister also confused the term "haram" (forbidden) with the Koran and suggested Jews worshipped Jesus Christ.

The interview, which aired early this week, went viral on social media.

Banister was standing as an anti-immigration candidate for the One Nation party founded by Pauline Hanson, the controversial former MP. The mother of two is also facing criminal charges for allegedly placing anti-Muslim stickers saying "Halal food funds terrorism" on products in a supermarket.

She announced her withdrawal from the election on Saturday.

"With the way Channel Seven edited my interview, I was left quite the fool," Banister said in a brief statement.

"I'd like to apologise to One Nation, to my friends and family, for any embarrassment this has brought to them."

One newspaper headline said Banister had managed to put Islam literally on the map.

The leader of One Nation, Jim Savage, said Ms Banister continued to have the "full support" of the party executive.

He said she had been under "enormous pressure", including threats to her and her family.

Commentators compared Banister to Sarah Palin, the gaffe-prone Republican vice-presidential candidate in the 2008 US election.