Australian Senator Suspended for Appearing in Parliament Wearing a Burqa

Darwin, 26 November –

Australian right-wing politician and leader of the “One Nation” party, Senator Pauline Hanson, has been suspended for seven working days by the country’s Senate for appearing in Parliament wearing a burqa.

A censure motion against her was passed in the Senate by a vote of 55–5.

The motion stated that Hanson’s actions were intended to demean and mock people on the basis of religion, and that it was disrespectful to Australia’s Muslim community.

Earlier on Monday, she entered the Senate wearing a burqa to intensify her demand for a public ban on the garment. She even refused to remove the burqa when asked to do so. As a result, parliamentary proceedings were halted for some time.

Her actions were condemned by senators of the ruling Labor Party as well as Muslim lawmakers, who called it hateful and racist.

Pauline Hanson told reporters that voters would judge her, not her fellow senators. She said there is no dress code in Parliament, and if senators did not like what she wore, they should ban the burqa.

Pauline said that she took this step in protest against the Senate’s rejection of her bill.

However, other senators strongly criticized her actions.

One senator described it as “clear racism.”

On Monday, when other lawmakers prevented Pauline from presenting her bill, she left, put on a burqa, and then returned to Parliament.

In 2017, she had also entered Parliament wearing a burqa and called for a nationwide ban at that time.

Her One Nation party holds four seats in the Senate.

Last year, the Federal Court also found Hanson guilty of racial discrimination, and she is appealing that decision.