Australian Senator Pauline Hanson's Burqa Stunt Sparks Outrage in Parliament

Image Source: Internet

Australian senator Pauline Hanson has sparked widespread outrage after wearing a burqa to Parliament on Monday, a move seen by many as a provocative stunt to push for a ban on the Muslim garment in public. Hanson, a far-right politician, was seeking to introduce a bill that would prohibit full-face coverings in Australia, a policy she has championed for decades. The incident, which was captured in a viral video, led to chaos in the Parliament and drew criticism from her fellow senators, including Foreign Minister Penny Wong. Wong described Hanson's actions as 'hateful and shallow pageantry' that 'tears at our social fabric and makes Australia weaker.' Hanson's stunt was not her first attempt to draw attention to her views on the burqa. In 2017, she wore the garment to highlight what she saw as security risks posed by the burqa. However, her latest move has been met with even greater condemnation, with many accusing her of racism. As a result of her actions, Hanson has been suspended from Parliament for seven sitting days. Despite the backlash, Hanson remains committed to her views, arguing that if certain items can be banned in public, such as helmets, then the burqa should be no exception. Hanson's anti-immigration and anti-asylum seeker stance has been a hallmark of her career, which rose to prominence in the 1990s. Her One Nation party has long campaigned for a nationwide ban on the burqa, a policy that has been met with significant opposition from the Australian public and government.