Mon Nov 24 10:16:41 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary and news article based on the provided text:
Summary:
Australian Senator Pauline Hanson, leader of the far-right One Nation party, caused outrage in the Australian Senate by wearing a burqa as a political stunt to protest against the rejection of her bill to ban full-face coverings in public. This is the second time she has done so. Muslim senators and leaders from both major parties condemned her actions as racist and disrespectful, leading to the suspension of Senate proceedings when she refused to remove the garment. Hanson defended her actions on Facebook, citing national security concerns and the “ill-treatment of women” associated with the burqa.
News Article:
Australian Senator Sparks Outrage with Burqa Stunt, Senate Suspended
Sydney, Australia – November 24, 2025 – Australian Senator Pauline Hanson, leader of the One Nation party, ignited a firestorm of controversy in Parliament today after wearing a burqa as a protest against the rejection of her bill to ban the garment in public places. The incident led to accusations of racism and the suspension of Senate proceedings.
Senator Hanson donned the burqa shortly after being denied permission to introduce the bill, marking the second time she has used the garment in Parliament to advocate for a nationwide ban. The act sparked immediate condemnation from Muslim senators, with Greens Senator Mehreen Faruqi labeling it “blatant racism” and independent Senator Fatima Payman calling it “disgraceful.”
Leaders from both the governing Labour party and the opposition coalition also denounced Hanson’s actions. Senator Penny Wong, leader of the Labour government in the Senate, deemed the stunt “not worthy of a member of the Australian Senate.” A motion to suspend Hanson was put forward when she refused to remove the burqa, ultimately resulting in the suspension of Senate proceedings.
Hanson, who rose to prominence in the 1990s for her anti-immigration stance, defended her actions in a Facebook post, stating, “So if the Parliament won’t ban it, I will display this oppressive, radical, non-religious head garb that risks? our national security and the ill-treatment of women on the floor of our Parliament so that every Australian knows what’s at stake. If they don’t want me wearing it – ban the burqa.”
The One Nation party, which gained two additional seats in the recent General Election amid rising support for far-right anti-immigration policies, now holds four seats in the Senate. This latest incident underscores the ongoing tensions surrounding immigration and religious freedom in Australian politics.
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