Australia’s far-right politician Pauline Hanson has been suspended from the Senate for seven sittings after causing a stir by wearing a burqa during a parliamentary session. Her protest sparked intense backlash from lawmakers and the public alike.
Penny Wong, leader of the center-left Labor Party and Australia’s Foreign Minister, strongly condemned Hanson’s act, calling it “a hateful and divisive move that threatens social harmony.” She added, “Senator Hanson mocked an entire religion practiced by nearly a million Australians. This weakens our country and harms vulnerable communities.”
Hanson defended her actions, insisting she has the right to wear what she chooses in Parliament. Speaking to journalists in Canberra, she said, “If helmets are not allowed in banks when asked to remove them, what’s the difference with a burqa? I will stand by my beliefs, and the public will ultimately decide.”
This isn’t Hanson’s first burqa protest; in 2017, she wore one in the Senate, calling it a national security risk. Her actions have drawn repeated criticism for promoting Islamophobia.
