Pauline Hanson's rhetoric 'no different to IS'

Islamic community leaders have slammed Pauline Hanson's maiden Senate speech, comparing her rhetoric with extremist groups such as Islamic State.

One Nation leader Senator Pauline Hanson

Federal MPs have condemned Pauline Hanson for peddling fear over Muslims and immigration. Source: AAP

One Nation leader Pauline Hanson claimed on Wednesday evening that Australia was now being "swamped by Muslims", 20 years after making the same warning about Asians. 

Ms Hanson also used parliamentary privilege to argue that if Muslim migration wasn't halted, then Australia would be "living under Sharia law".

She warned of radicalisation and insisted more Muslims would go on to fight with Islamic State than the Australian army.

"How should we tell the difference? There is no sign saying good Muslim or bad Muslim," she said.

"How many lives will be lost or destroyed trying to determine who is good or who is bad?"

Community advocate Bilal Rauf from the Muslim Legal Network, said he believed her modus operandi mirrored the propaganda delivered by IS.

"When we really crystalise it and boil it down, what emerges is that her narrative, her approach this binary approach of 'us' and 'them' in fact isn't any different to IS or your other extremist groups who want to pitch the world into two camps: 'either you're with us, or against us'," Mr Rauf said.

"There is no intelligent, considered, realistic discussion of these issues. It comes down to black and white and a binary approach."

Maha Abdo from the Muslim Women's Association told SBS she was extremely upset as a result of Ms Hanson's speech, which called for a ban on Muslim immigration, the burqa and construction of new mosques or Islamic schools.

She added the One Nation Leader's use of the word "swamp" was "appalling".

"Honestly and sincerely I feel so sorry for her," Ms Abdo said.

"My heart was aching to actually just read some of the words that she's said because I could not listen to a lot of the words that were coming out of her mouth. Especially in this day and age."

"I think it's more than just dividing, it's creating a space of more fear and heightened anxiety across the community. Not just within the Muslim community, but I think in mainstream Australia."
Ms Abdo said she believed that while Pauline Hanson claimed to be open to a conversation with Muslim leaders, her actions and words were proving contradictory.

"She's cutting us all off. She's blocking our invitations to sit and talk, and she seems not to be interested in talking to Australian Muslims," Maha Abdo said.

"I think once she sits and listens then she'll able to a lot more informed. She needs to be more clear about what she really wants to know about Muslims; what it is that she's not comfortable with.

"It's okay, you know, we don't all have to be comfortable with everything. But I think respect is vital to living in a social cohesive society.

She asked Ms Hanson to: "open up your heart and your mind."

Bilal Rauf added, "We will have to weather a lot of this going forward."

"We must maintain a positive dialogue and not let ignorance prevail."

Hanson 'condemned'

Senator Hanson offered to personally take to the airport anyone not willing to become Australian and give their undivided loyalty to the nation.

She declared Islam was partly a religion but had a political agenda, saying Muslims were imprisoned at almost three times the average rate and unemployed at two to three times the national average.

Her comments appeared to have been resoundingly ignored by incoming politicians from both major parties. 

Immediately following her speech, Northern Territory Labor Senator Malarndirri McCarthy paid tribute to her Aboriginal heritage in her maiden speech.

The Labor Senator from the Borroloola region in the Northern Territory spoke in her Yanyuwa language and received a standing ovation at the end of her speech.

In the House of Representatives today, new Liberal MP Julia Banks spoke a few lines in Greek to pay tribute to her Greek parents.

She also had some advice for people spreading hate speech.

“Public figures and those who have a big share of voice in the media and other forums have a higher duty of care and responsibility to think before they write and speak,” she told the chamber.

Labor backbencher Graham Perrett lambasted Hanson for generating fear in Australian society.

“People like Pauline Hanson get taxpayer dollars by peddling division and fear and I condemn her for that,” he told reporters in Canberra on Thursday.

'She's a one-trick pony, and that trick is fear and division.”

Labor frontbencher Linda Burney said she was also unimpressed by Ms Hanson's speech.
On Thursday, Richard Di Natale defended his party leaving her speech half way through, describing it as “vile”.

“It’s got no place in the Australian community,” he said.
“Just imagine if you were a young Muslim kid listening in to that, how you’d feel.

“Just imagine if you’re a Muslim family, coming to this country, trying to do what most families want to do here, contribute, get a roof over your head, give your kids and education, just contribute to the Australian community.”

However Liberal Senator Linda Reynolds said she recognised Ms Hanson's right to express her opinion.
When SBS asked Ms Hanson her opinion about the Greens walking out of her speech, she replied: “Well actually I thought it would have taken a lot longer to get rid of them so I never thought it would be my first speech.”

Hanson invited to grow understanding of Islam

In a statement, Mr Keysar Trad, the president of Muslims Australia – The Australian Federation of Islamic Councils, said Ms Hanson's words "create tremendous concern for Muslim Australians and Australian society”.

He commended Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull for "rejecting" Ms Hanson’s comments. 

“Whilst profoundly critical of Ms. Hanson’s comment, I stretch my hand with love and goodwill, offering to spend as much time as necessary with Ms. Hanson to answer her questions about Islam (with references), no strings attached."

WATCH: Pauline Hanson's maiden speech in 1996

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6 min read
Published 15 September 2016 10:30am
Updated 15 September 2016 8:00pm
By Andrea Booth, Omar Dabbagh, Myles Morgan


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