One Nation leader Pauline Hanson has partially retracted a claim that Notice “no good Muslims,” while simultaneously defending her broader criticism of Islam and rejecting condemnation from Islamic leaders and political opponents. The backpedaling came during an interview with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation on Wednesday, days after Hanson made the initial comments on Sky News.
Hanson’s original statement, made during a discussion about the potential return of Islamic State militants and their families to Australia, drew swift and widespread criticism. Nationals senator Matt Canavan labelled the remarks “divisive, inflammatory [and] un-Australian,” while the Australian National Imams Council (ANIC) accused Hanson of demonstrating a “serious misunderstanding of Islam and the Muslim community.”
During Wednesday’s interview, Hanson clarified that she did “not believe there are no ‘good’ Muslims,” citing the example of a non-practicing Muslim woman who previously ran for One Nation. Still, she quickly qualified this statement, stating she would not apologize for speaking out against “radical Islam” and expressing concerns about the potential for a “world caliphate.”
“If I’ve offended anyone out there that doesn’t believe in Sharia law or multiple marriages or wants to bring ISIS brides in or people from Gaza who believes in the caliphate… then I apologise to you for my comment,” Hanson said. “But in general, that’s what they want: a world caliphate and I’m not going to apologise.”
ANIC president Shadi Alsuleiman rejected Hanson’s revised position, stating that her comments were based on “misinformation rather than genuine engagement.” He emphasized the positive contributions of Muslims to Australian society. Hanson dismissed Alsuleiman’s criticism, claiming to have heard “more hateful things coming out of the mouths of imams giving their sermons on the streets of Sydney, and other places in Australia.”
The controversy surrounding Hanson’s comments comes as One Nation experiences a surge in popularity, according to recent opinion polls. A Newspoll survey indicates the party has gained a 27% primary vote, surpassing the opposition’s 18%. An upcoming by-election in the electorate of Farrer is expected to serve as a key test of whether this increased support will translate into electoral success.
Hanson’s rhetoric echoes previous statements she has made regarding immigration and multiculturalism. In her 1996 maiden speech to Parliament, she warned Australia was “being swamped by Asians,” a sentiment she repeated in a 2016 Senate address, replacing “Asians” with “Muslims.” She also drew condemnation in recent years for wearing a burqa in the Senate as a political statement.
