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This Australian Senator Wore a Burqa in Parliament to Make Point About Banning It

by in World on 17th August, 2017

Pauline Hanson walked into the Australian Senate chamber dressed in a full burqa before attempting giving a speech about why it should be covered.

“Terrorism is a true threat to our country. Many Australians are very much in fear of it. What I would like to ask, on behalf of the Australian people considering there has been a large majority of Australians wish to see the banning of the burka.”

— Pauline Hanson

The Attorney-General, however, showed great disappointment and pointed out how inappropriate the stunt was, receiving a standing ovation.

“Thank you. Senator Hanson, no, we will not be banning the burka. Senator Hanson, I am not going to pretend to ignore the stunt that you have tried to pull today by arriving in the Chamber dressed in a burka when we all know that you are not an adherent of the Islamic faith. I would caution and counsel you with respect to be very, very careful of the offence you may do to the religious sensibilities of other Australians.

We have about 500,000 Australians in this country of the Islamic faith. And the vast majority of them are law-abiding, good Australians. Senator Hanson, it is absolutely consistent with being a good, law-abiding Australian and being a strict, adherent Muslim.

Senator Hanson, for the last four years, I have had responsibility pre-eminently among the ministers subject to the Prime Minister for national security policy. And I can tell you, Senator Hanson, that it has been the advice of each director-general of security with whom I have worked and each commissioner of the Australian Federal Police with whom I have worked that it is vital for their intelligence and law-enforcement work that they work cooperatively with the Muslim community. And to ridicule that community, to drive it into a corner, to mock its religious garments is an appalling thing to do and I would ask you to reflect on what you have done.”

– George Brandis, Attorney- General

It’s of course not the first time people have attacked religious freedoms and will not be the last.

Amaliah Team

Amaliah Team

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