Senator Hanson Suspended from parliament for Burqa Protest
Canberra, Australia – Australian Senator Pauline Hanson has been suspended from Parliament for the remainder of the year after wearing a burqa into the Senate chamber as a protest against the rejection of her proposed national burqa ban.The 71-year-old leader of the One Nation party was ejected from the Senate on Monday and afterward censured on Tuesday, resulting in a ban from attending seven consecutive Senate sessions. As Parliament adjourns this Thursday,the suspension will extend until February of next year.
Hanson’s action was a demonstration against her colleagues’ unwillingness to debate her bill seeking to prohibit full facial coverings in public spaces. She argued the denial of her right to wear the burqa in parliament, despite the absence of a formal dress code, was hypocritical. this is not the first time Hanson has used this tactic; she wore a burqa in the Senate in 2017, but faced no disciplinary action at that time.
The censure motion was brought forward by Government Senate leader Penny Wong,who emphasized the harmful impact of Hanson’s gesture. Wong stated that Hanson’s actions “ridiculed and vilified an entire faith” practiced by nearly one million Australians. She further asserted that the spectacle “tears at our social fabric and weakens australia,” and has negative consequences for vulnerable communities.
Senators Mehreen Faruqi and Fatima Payman, the only two Muslim members of the Senate, also voiced their concerns.Payman directly confronted Hanson on Monday, calling her actions “shameful” and “a disgrace.” Faruqi called for the motion to be a catalyst for addressing systemic racism within the country.
The incident comes after a recent court ruling found Hanson in violation of racial discrimination laws for a social media post telling Senator Faruqi to “go back to where you came from.” Hanson has appealed this ruling.
Rateb Jneid, president of the Australian Federation of Islamic Councils, released a statement condemning Hanson’s behavior as part of a “pattern of behavior that has repeatedly vilified Muslims, migrants and minorities.” Hanson has long been known for her controversial views on race,dating back to her 1996 maiden parliamentary speech where she warned Australia was facing an “invasion by Asians” due to its immigration policies.
Hanson has stated she will seek judgment from voters in the next election, scheduled for 2028, rather than her parliamentary colleagues.
