Aussie senator calls for ban on burqas in public

CANBERRA: An Australian senator who a month ago provoked an angry backlash by wearing a burqa in Parliament urged lawmakers to ban full-face Islamic coverings in public places.

Pauline Hanson, leader of the anti-Muslim, anti-immigration One Nation minor party, was arguing for proposed laws that she introduced into the Senate that would make wearing full-face coverings an offence punishable by a A$4,200 (RM14,112) fine.

The Bill also proposes that compelling others to wear such coverings would carry a prison sentence of up to six months and an A$42,000 (RM140,112) fine.

She proposes several exempt circumstances including entertainment and sport.

Three senators including Hanson argued over her Bill before a majority of senators shut down debate until a later date.

Hanson, an outspoken fan of President Donald Trump, sat in the Senate last month wearing black head-to-ankle garments for more than 10 minutes before removing the veil.

Her actions were widely condemned by senators as insulting to Muslims, although it sparked public debate for and against her actions across Australia for days later.

“My reasoning to wear the burqa into this chamber was seen as a stunt, call it what you want, I really don’t care,” Hanson told the Senate yesterday. “Because the whole fact is that it’s got Australians talking and Australians feel now they have a voice and it’s created debate,” she added.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has ruled out his conservative government ever banning Islamic face coverings.

But the government’s junior coalition partner, the Nationals party, on Sunday narrowly rejected an attempt to make such a ban party policy.