| AFIC: This was a calculated act of racism, designed to provoke, humiliate, and inflame. |
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AFIC Condemns Pauline Hanson’s Repeat Burqa Stunt as Deliberate Racism, Calls for Parliamentary Sanctions
25 November 2025
(See translation in Arabic section)
Sydney-Middle East Times Int'l: The Australian Federation of Islamic Councils (AFIC) strongly condemns Senator Pauline Hanson’s latest decision to wear a burqa into the Senate chamber, a repeat of her now-infamous 2017 stunt, and part of a long and shameful history of targeting Muslim Australians and other minority communities.
This was a calculated act of racism, designed to provoke, humiliate, and inflame. It uses the religious dress of Muslim women as a political prop and relies on tired Islamophobic tropes to score attention at the expense of a vulnerable community.
“This is not the first time Pauline Hanson has done this. It is part of a pattern of behaviour that has repeatedly vilified Muslims, migrants, and minorities,” said AFIC President Dr Rateb Jneid. “That Parliament continues to allow this kind of racism to play out on the Senate floor is an indictment on the institution itself.”
The fact that the Senate was forced to suspend proceedings due to her actions should be seen as a failure of parliamentary safeguards. Condemnation is no longer enough. There must be structural accountability.
AFIC calls on the Australian Parliament to urgently review and strengthen its codes of conduct, standing orders, and dress protocols to ensure that:
• Racially motivated stunts are explicitly prohibited
• Repeat offenders are subject to formal disciplinary action or censure
• Minority groups are not used as political punchlines inside our national institutions
This is not simply about one stunt or one Senator, it is about whether Australia will continue to tolerate dog-whistling and racist theatrics in its most powerful spaces or whether we will demand better.
AFIC reaffirms its support for the dignity, freedom, and safety of Muslim women, including their right to wear the burqa, niqab, or hijab without fear of ridicule or politicisation. Diversity in Australia is a strength. But it must be protected from those who seek to weaponise it for division.
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AFIC, established in 1964, stands as the Peak Muslim Organisation in Australia, with 170 members including 9 State and Territory Councils. It has a rich history of pioneering numerous community services and actively advocating for the rights and representation of the Muslim community.
Authorised:
Dr Rateb Jneid, President |
