Australian Senator Pauline Hanson Sparks Outrage with Burqa Stunt in Parliament
Far-right Senator Pauline Hanson ignited controversy in the Australian Senate on Monday by wearing a full-face burqa as a political protest advocating for a public ban on the garment. The stunt immediately drew accusations of racism and Islamophobia from fellow senators.
Hanson entered the Senate chamber clad in the burqa, causing proceedings to be temporarily suspended when she refused to remove it. The act followed the blocking of her formal bill that sought to prohibit burqas and other full-face coverings in public spaces. Muslim senators were quick to condemn the demonstration. Greens Senator Mehreen Faruqi called it racist, stating that dress codes are personal choices, not opportunities for racial discrimination. Independent Senator Fatima Payman described the act as disgraceful.
Bipartisan criticism followed. Government Senate leader Penny Wong and opposition deputy Senate leader Anne Ruston both denounced Hanson’s tactics, marking a rare moment of unity against the senator. This was not Hanson’s first such stunt; she previously wore a burqa in the same chamber in 2017. Her One Nation party, which now holds four Senate seats, has seen growing influence with far-right policies gaining traction after the May general election.
Hanson defended her actions on Facebook, arguing the protest highlighted women’s mistreatment and security concerns related to full-face coverings. However, her explanation failed to quell backlash from the Muslim community and its allies. The incident has reignited debates in Australia over religious freedom, national security, and the limits of political expression.
