Australia: Senator Pauline Hanson Suspended for Mocking Burqa in Parliament

Australia: The Australian Senate on Tuesday **suspended right-wing politician Pauline Hanson for seven sittings** after she sparked controversy by mocking the burqa during a parliamentary session. Hanson’s actions drew widespread condemnation from lawmakers across the political spectrum.

According to Reuters, **Penny Wong**, leader of the center-left Labor Party and Australia’s Foreign Minister, criticized Hanson’s behavior, calling it **“hateful and divisive”** and saying it undermines social cohesion. Wong added that Hanson **mocked and demeaned an entire religion** followed by nearly one million Australians, describing the act as exceptionally disrespectful within parliamentary proceedings.

Breaking: Senator Pauline Hanson has been suspended from the Senate for 7 days following a successful censure motion passed against her for wearing a burqa and offending Muslim Australians.

Senator Hanson argued that she was denied a voice in Parliament, and that those who… pic.twitter.com/o7LTWJ9nnN

— Rukshan Fernando (@therealrukshan) November 25, 2025

Defending her stance, Pauline Hanson insisted she was merely expressing her opinion on the burqa and noted that there are **no dress codes in Parliament**. Speaking to reporters in Canberra, she said:
*”If you cannot wear a helmet in a bank or other places where you are asked to remove it, then what is the difference with a burqa?”*

Hanson added, *”I will stand by my views and do what I believe is right. Ultimately, the public will decide.”*

This is not Hanson’s first parliamentary controversy involving the burqa; in 2017, she also entered the Senate wearing one, calling for a ban and arguing it posed a national security threat, while facing criticism for promoting anti-Muslim sentiments.