One Nation Leader Pauline Hanson has issued a conditional apology after comments suggesting there are “no good Muslims.”
Hanson partially walked back her remarks, saying she does not believe there are no good Muslims in Australia, noting a Muslim woman previously ran as a candidate for One Nation.
“If I’ve offended anyone out there that doesn’t believe in Sharia law or multiple marriages, or wants to bring the ISIS brides in, or people from Gaza who believe in a caliphate and all the rest of it, then I apologise too for my comment,” she told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation on Feb. 18.
Hanson drew criticism on Feb. 16 during an interview with Sky News Australia, saying Islam concerned her.
“I’ve got no time for the radical Islam, their religion concerns me because what it says in the Quran,” she told the media outlet.
“They hate Westerners, and that’s what it’s all about. You say, ‘Oh well, there’s good Muslims out there.’ I’m sorry, how can you tell me there are good Muslims if jihad is ever called, and people must understand this, and go and research this.”
The One Nation leader later clarified that she did not want Australia to follow in the footsteps of some European countries that are struggling with immigration challenges.
“I will have my say now, before it’s too late. I’m at the end of my life. I worry about the future of this nation. I don’t want Australia to become like Britain, or France, or Canada, or Germany, or these other countries that regret the number they have allowed,” she said.
Asked whether her comments were divisive or hateful, Hanson instead, argued Australia needed stricter vetting of migrants.
“I don’t believe in women wearing the burqa. I don’t believe in multiple marriages. I don’t believe in the taxpayer funding this as well. That’s not the Australian way of life,” she said.
Her comments echo those made by former Liberal Prime Minister Tony Abbott who has outlined his concerns with radical Islamic practices, which ironically, are heavily regulated in Muslim majority countries like Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.
Opposition Leader Disagrees, But Notes Problems With Assimilation
Hanson’s comments drew criticism from other political figures, including Opposition Leader Angus Taylor, who said he had “many good Muslims” in his electorate, including “a wonderful guy” who ran for the Liberal Party at the last election.“But I tell you what we should be keeping out of this country people who, as I say, don’t believe in our way of life, don’t accept our core beliefs, and want to bring hate and violence from another place, and anyone linked to ISIS, as I said earlier, should not be coming to this country if we can prevent it,” he told Channel 10.
Nationals Senator Matt Canavan labelled Hanson’s remarks “totally un-Australian.”
“This statement from Pauline was divisive, inflammatory,” he told Channel 9 on Feb. 18.
Special Envoy on Islamophobia Invites Dialogue
The government’s Special Envoy on Islamophobia Aftab Malik invited Hanson to join him for an iftar—the meal eaten by Muslims at sunset to break their fast—during Ramadan, which began in Australia on Feb. 17.“As the holy month of Ramadan is almost upon us, it is a time for reflection, restraint, and compassion. It is then challenging to listen calmly to the sweeping generalisations and negative stereotypes about Islam and Muslim Australians,” he said on social media.
Malik also welcomed Hanson to ask questions about his religion during the meal.
“I‘ll be happy to talk to her about Sharia Law, the different types of Jihad, the Qur’an, violent extremism, women in Islam and any other questions she might have,” he said.
