This Far-Right White Australian Woman Politician Wore A Burqa To Parliament To Call For It To Be Banned
Shortly after her bill of banning burqas, niqabs and similar full-face coverings in public spaces was blocked, Hanson returned wearing a black burqa in protest.
Far-right Australian politician senator Pauline Hanson staged an anti-Islam stunt, wearing a burqa at Parliament to push for a nationwide ban on the Islamic garment, sparking outrage and leading the senate to be suspended.
Hanson, the leader of the One Nation party known for its anti-Islam and anti-immigration stance, had tried to introduce a bill on Monday, Nov. 24 to ban burqas, niqabs and similar full-face coverings in public spaces across Australia, but it was denied by other lawmakers.
Shortly after her bill was blocked, Hanson returned wearing a black burqa in protest.
Lawmakers in the Senate erupted in anger as Hanson walked in.
“A dress code might be a choice of the senators, but racism should not be the choice of the Senate,” Mehreen Faruqi, a Muslim Greens senator said.
"This is a racist senator, displaying blatant racism," she added.
Independent senator Fatima Payman, who is also Muslim, called the stunt “disgraceful.”
The senate proceedings were then suspended when Hanson refused to remove the burqa.
Hanson said in a statement later posted on Facebook that her actions were in protest at the Senate rejecting her proposed bill, adding "if they don't want me wearing it - ban the burqa."
Hanson previously wore a burqa in Parliament in 2017, also calling for a national ban of the garment at the time.
On Tuesday, Nov. 25, following widespread condemnation, lawmakers in the senate overwhelmingly voted to suspend Hanson, leading to her being suspended for seven sitting days of the legislative body, according to the New York Times.
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