(Adnkronos) – In the chamber with the burqa. A new provocation by an Australian far-right senator has sparked criticism and controversy and led to the suspension of the session, which was later resumed after considerable tension. Pauline Hanson, leader of the One Nation party, who has been campaigning for years to ban the burqa in Australia, as well as anything that covers the face, entered the chamber wearing a long black robe.
The parliamentarian effectively repeated the provocation of 2017. A Green senator spoke of a stunt with “racist” intentions. Another colleague denounced “disrespect for the Islamic religion”. “Regardless of our personal convictions, the form of disrespect shown at this moment is not worthy of a member of the Australian Senate,” said Foreign Minister Penny Wong.
On the ‘Pauline Hanson’s One Nation Party’ Facebook page, a post was published accusing senators of being “hypocrites” for blocking a proposal to ban the burqa. “If they don’t want Senator Hanson to wear it, ban the burqa,” the message read. In Australia, according to the latest official data from 2021, Muslims make up approximately 3.2% of the population, over 25 million people.
