Australian Senator Pauline Hanson Sparks Outrage Over Burqa Stunt
Australian Senator Pauline Hanson has once again sparked controversy after wearing a burqa in Parliament again on Monday, an act critics have slammed as racist and Islamophobic. The leader of the far-right One Nation Party donned the full-face covering to protest her failed attempt to introduce a bill banning the burqa and other face coverings in public.
Hanson, who has long advocated for anti-immigration policies, walked into the Senate chamber in the burqa, prompting immediate outrage from fellow lawmakers. Mehreen Faruqi, a Muslim senator from the Australian Greens, called the stunt “blatant racism” and said it displayed a “disrespect” for the Muslim community. Fatima Payman, an independent Muslim senator from Western Australia, condemned the act as “disgraceful,” accusing Hanson of “disrespecting Muslim Australians.”
The political stunt led to the suspension of Senate proceedings when Hanson refused to remove the burqa after being asked. This was not the first time Hanson had used the garment as a prop—she previously wore a burqa in 2017 in a similar attempt to highlight her calls for a ban.
In a statement following the incident, Hanson defended her actions, writing on Facebook: “If they don’t want me wearing it — ban the burqa.” She explained that her goal was to raise awareness about what she sees as the “oppressive” nature of the garment and its potential threat to national security. "So if the parliament won't ban it, I will display this oppressive, radical, non-religious head garb that risk our national security and the ill treatment of women on the floor of our parliament so that every Australian knows what's at stake," she added.
Hanson’s One Nation Party, known for its controversial stance on immigration and nationalism, has seen a rise in support, doubling its representation in the Senate following May’s general election. However, her stunt was heavily criticized by politicians across the political spectrum. Penny Wong, the leader of Australia’s center-left Labor government in the Senate, said that Hanson’s actions were “not worthy of a member of the Australian Senate” and moved a motion to suspend her.
Despite facing backlash, Hanson denied she was mocking Islam or its followers, claiming she had “the utmost respect” for people of all faiths. However, her actions are likely to further fuel the ongoing debate around her party’s far-right agenda and its impact on Australia’s multicultural society.
Hanson’s latest stunt has only intensified the controversy surrounding her longstanding campaign against Islamic clothing. With her party’s rising influence, the debate over national security, cultural integration, and religious freedom in Australia is likely to continue to dominate the political landscape.
