Australian right-wing politician and leader of the ‘One Nation’ party, Senator Pauline Hanson, has been suspended from the Senate for seven sitting days. On Monday (24 November), she entered the Senate wearing a burqa to reinforce her call for a public ban on burqas. Her actions were condemned by government Senators and Muslim lawmakers as ‘hateful’ and ‘racist.’
After being denied permission to introduce a bill to ban the burqa, Hanson entered Parliament wearing the burqa. Muslim lawmakers quickly labelled her behavior as a ‘racist stunt.’
Foreign Minister Penny Wong stated in the Senate, “Senator Hanson’s hateful and petty display undermines our social cohesion and weakens the nation. She has mocked the religion practiced by nearly a million Australians.”
A motion condemning her was passed in the Senate by a vote of 55-5.
With right-wing nationalist rhetoric and anti-immigrant positions, One Nation has gained support in recent years. In the general election in May, the party secured four seats in the Senate. Polls also indicate that Hanson’s popularity is increasing.
Hanson told reporters she would not back down from her position on the burqa. She stated, “There is no dress code in Parliament. You have to remove helmets in banks, but why should there be a different rule for the burqa?” She argued, “I will remain steadfast in my position; the people will judge me.”
The Queensland Senator became known in the 1990s for her anti-Asian immigration and asylum seeker rhetoric. She has been campaigning against Islamic dress for a long time.
This marks her second time wearing a burqa in the Senate. In 2017, she also entered Parliament wearing the burqa to call for a national ban.
SS