Anti-Muslim Australian senator wears burqa in Parliament
CANBERRA, Australia — An Australian senator provoked an angry backlash from lawmakers by wearing a burqa in Parliament on Thursday as part of her campaign for a national ban on Islamic face covers.
Pauline Hanson, leader of the anti-Muslim, anti-immigration One Nation minor party, sat wearing the black head-to-ankle garment for more than 10 minutes before taking it off as she rose to explain that she wanted such outfits banned on national security grounds.
“There has been a large majority of Australians (who) wish to see the banning of the burqa,” said Hanson, an outspoken fan of President Donald Trump, as senators objected.
Attorney-General George Brandis drew applause when he said his government would not ban the burqa, and chastised Hanson for what he described as a “stunt” that offended Australia’s Muslim minority.