Australian senator Pauline Hanson has been condemned for repeating a political stunt when she wore a burka to parliament in her attempts to ban the Muslim garment in public.
Ms Hanson was criticised by Muslim senators and other political leaders over Monday’s stunt, being accused of “blatant racism”.
The Australian senate erupted in anger as she walked into the chamber wearing the burka.
Proceedings were suspended when the senator for Queensland, who has long campaigned against Islamic clothing during her parliamentary career, refused to remove it.
It was the second time she had worn the garment in parliament, having previously worn one in 2017.
Ms Hanson later wrote on Facebook: “If they don’t want me wearing it – ban the burka.”
Mehreen Faruqi, a Greens senator from the state of New South Wales, said: “This is a racist senator, displaying blatant racism.”
Meta to block Instagram and Facebook for users under 16 in Australia
Chinese hackers are sabotaging key infrastructure in Australia, spy chief warns
Helen Garner’s ‘unsparing’ diary collection becomes first to win prestigious Baillie Gifford non-fiction prize
Fatima Payman, an independent senator from the state of Western Australia, called the stunt “disgraceful”.
Ms Hanson wore the garment shortly after she was denied permission to introduce a bill that would outlaw burkas and other full-face coverings in public places in Australia.
The One Nation party leader said her actions were in protest at the Senate rejecting her proposed bill.
“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 on social media.
Speaking later on Sky News Australia, Ms Hanson denied she was mocking people who follow Islam.
Ms Hanson said: “Let me make it quite clear. I have the utmost respect for people of what faith they may be.”
Be the first to get Breaking News
Install the Sky News app for free
Read more from Sky News:
Paralympics will not ban countries for launching wars
Royal Navy intercepts Russian warship and tanker
Both Penny Wong, leader of Australia’s Labor government in the Senate, and Anne Ruston, deputy Senate leader for the opposition coalition, condemned Ms Hanson’s actions.
Ms Wong called them “not worthy of a member of the Australian Senate”, and moved a motion to suspend Ms Hanson for failing to remove the garment.
