Australian Far-Right Senator Sparks Outrage After Wearing Burqa in Parliament

GLOBAL — A fresh wave of condemnation has erupted in Australia after far-right Senator Pauline Hanson entered the Senate chamber wearing a black burqa, in an attempt to push for a national ban on full-face coverings. The incident, which unfolded on Monday, has reignited long-running debates over religious freedom, national identity, and the political weaponisation of Islamic attire.

Hanson, leader of the anti-immigration One Nation party, donned the burqa shortly after being denied permission to introduce a bill seeking to outlaw burqas and similar garments in public spaces. Senate proceedings were temporarily suspended when she refused to remove the garment.

Muslim senators sharply criticised the act.

Greens Senator Mehreen Faruqi denounced it as “blatant racism,” while Independent Senator Fatima Payman labelled the move “disgraceful,” accusing Hanson of using Muslim women as political theatre.

Leaders across the aisle—including Penny Wong of the governing Labor Party and Anne Ruston of the opposition coalition—condemned the stunt as unworthy of the Senate. Wong immediately moved a motion to suspend Hanson for refusing to comply with chamber protocols.

Hanson Defends the Stunt

In a subsequent Facebook statement, Hanson claimed her actions were a protest against the Senate’s rejection of her proposed legislation.

She argued that full-face coverings pose national security risks and represent “oppressive, radical, non-religious head garb.”

Her party, One Nation, gained two additional Senate seats in the recent general election, buoyed by rising support for far-right, anti-immigration policies.

A Repeat of a 2017 Controversy

This week’s incident mirrors a similar stunt Hanson staged in 2017, when she wore a burqa during Question Time to demand a national ban.

The move then triggered a historic rebuke from former Attorney-General George Brandis, who warned that ridiculing Muslim Australians undermines national security efforts and disrespects the faith of an estimated half-million Muslims in Australia.

Broader Global Context

Australia’s debate echoes a wider global controversy around Islamic veils:

• France implemented the first European ban on full-face coverings in 2011.

• Belgium, Austria, Denmark and others followed, often defending the bans as security measures or efforts to promote “social cohesion.”

• The European Court of Human Rights has upheld some national restrictions, citing the principle of “living together.”

However, critics—including rights organisations and Muslim community groups—argue that such bans stigmatise women and restrict religious freedom.

In Australia, there is no federal ban on the burqa. Some states require temporary removal for identification by authorised officers, but constitutional protections complicate any attempt at a nationwide prohibition.

Why This Matters Beyond Australia

Although this incident occurred in Canberra, the tensions it exposes—between security, religious freedom, pluralism and populist politics—are increasingly global.

For Kenya and East Africa, where multi-faith coexistence is central to national cohesion, the episode offers a vivid reminder of the importance of responsible political leadership. Leaders worldwide continue to grapple with balancing legitimate security concerns while safeguarding constitutional rights and protecting minority communities from ridicule or marginalisation.

The strong cross-party rebuke within the Australian Senate stands as an example of democratic institutions responding firmly to acts seen as targeting religious minorities—an issue with clear relevance in diverse societies across East Africa and beyond.