One Nation Politician and Leader, Senator Pauline Hanson (QLD), wore a Burqa into the Australian Senate to call for a ban on the Islamic headscarf.
It was a scene that most people wouldn’t expect in the Australian Parliament and it got Senators in the chamber to turn their head in shock and to have some Senators yell in disgust for a political stunt that isn’t going over well.
Senator Hanson is considered a controversial figure in Australian politics and on her second tenure into the Australia Parliament she is continuing to raffle feathers. Today she wore a traditional Muslim Burqa into the chamber which made people turn their heads.
When called upon to ask her question during question time in Senate, Senator Hanson proceeded to remove the head scarf, deeming it was inappropriate to be worn in the Australian Parliament and then call upon the Australian Attorney General, Senator George Brandis, to assist her in banning the Burqa in public areas.
Senator Hanson and One Nation have been vocal about having the traditional head scarf banned and has stated on many occasions that the head scarf is an extreme national security risk.
The Attorney General rebuked her call and was praised for that in the Senate. Senator Brandis was close to tears while criticising Senator Hanson for attacking the Islamic faith and undermining relations with the Muslim community.
Senator Hanson was allowed by law to enter the Australian Senate wearing the traditional head scarf however it is worth noting at this point that under Australian Law, any person wearing such traditional religious attire that covers a persons face must remove it when they are requested to do so by law enforcement or such officers that may be required to identify a person entering such a building.
Senator Hanson has an extreme way of attempting to demonstrate her point to the public however she has received condemnation from all sides of politics for this ‘political stunt’. Australian Conservatives politician Senator Cory Bernardi did stated that he felt ‘scared’ when he saw Senator Hanson in a full burqa however he was the only politician in the chamber that communicated that fear and has previously advocated for the same ban.
