CANBERRA, 25 November (H.S.): Australia's Federal Parliament was thrown into turmoil on Monday after far-right Senator Pauline Hanson wore a burqa into the Senate chamber, a move that was widely condemned by her colleagues as a racist and disrespectful stunt.

The One Nation party leader's inflammatory protest was designed to advocate for her long-standing proposal to ban full-face coverings in public spaces.The controversial display occurred shortly after Hanson was denied the opportunity to introduce a bill that would outlaw the burqa and other similar garments.

In response, she entered the chamber enveloped in the black, full-body covering and took her seat, prompting immediate and widespread outrage from fellow senators .The Senate session was promptly suspended as government and opposition leaders alike voiced their condemnation of Hanson's actions.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong described the stunt as disrespectful and unworthy of an Australian Senate member, while Greens Senator Larissa Waters labeled it the middle finger to people of faith and extremely racist and unsafe.

This is the second time the anti-immigration politician has employed this tactic, having previously worn a burqa in parliament in 2017 to highlight what she claimed were security risks associated with the garment.

In a social media post following the incident, Hanson defended her actions, stating, If they don't want me wearing it — ban the burqa. She has persistently described Islam as an ideology that is incompatible with our own .

The incident has reignited a fierce debate over freedom of expression, religious attire, and the rise of Islamophobia in Australia. Hanson's One Nation party has seen a recent surge in polling, with one report showing their support reaching a record 18 percent, reflecting a growing constituency for her anti-immigration platform.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar