Pauline Hanson is facing calls from members of the Muslim community to be permanently banned from Parliament over her burqa-wearing stunt – as women who wear Islamic face coverings open up about why they dress the way they do.
The Daily Mail spoke to almost two dozen Muslim women in Sydney‘s south-west this week after the One Nation leader’s controversial stunt, which saw her suspended from Parliament for a week.
Bankstown-based friends, Alina and Norah, who wear a hijab, were disgusted by Hanson’s act – the second time she has worn a burqa into Parliament – and called for her to be banned completely.
‘A girl like that (Hanson) has no self-esteem or anything in her life,’ Norah said.
‘Some (Islamic) people look at wearing burqas (as if) their bodies are covered, (then) they’re safe.
‘(Hanson’s stunt) is not going to affect a girl who’s really into her religion and is trying to protect herself from this world.’
Hanson entered the Senate wearing the burqa on Monday afternoon, shortly after she failed to move a bill banning the Islamic covering from public places. She claimed the proposed ban was for national security reasons.
But she admitted she couldn’t name any security incidents relating to the burqa, and added: ‘I don’t have the figures to pluck it out of my head.’
A woman is seen wearing a hi-vis, work boots and a niqab on Tuesday in western Sydney
Locals in Sydney’s west (pictured) were shocked by Hanson wearing a burqa in Parliament on Monday. She was later banned from the upper house for seven days
She said the garments were ‘oppressive, radical and non-religious’, which many Muslim women strongly denied when approached by the Daily Mail.
Many said the garments make them feel safe and secure.
Shazia, who was wearing a burqa-style outfit called a niqab while walking along the main street of Lakemba, said her decision to wear the full garment was hers alone.
Shazia was with her husband Najam at the time and he said: ‘It’s her choice, I’ve never forced her to wear it and it’s her choice according to the faith, so she’s wearing it and she’s practising and she’s feeling safe in this attire.’
Shazia agreed: ‘This is completely my choice and we love to follow Islam, as other religions have their clothes.
‘This is my niqab and my burqa and (Hanson’s stunt is) disrespecting my Islam.’
A number of Islamic clothing store shopkeepers who didn’t want to be named also told the Daily Mail that they’d heard a few people make reference to Hanson’s stunt when shopping that day.
But for shop assistant, Farzana, who works at the House of Faith clothing store in Lakemba, said she hadn’t yet seen any impact on burqa sales.
Hanson’s call for a ‘Burqa ban’ was met by community backlash on the streets of Lakemba
The young woman, who moved from India a few years ago, said she liked to wear a burqa for cultural reasons.
‘I feel protected and confident in this, I feel like I’m safe,’ Farzana said.
When asked about Hanson’s claim about the burqa being a national security issue, Farzana said: ‘It just looks like a dress – can you see anything wrong with this? I just cover my hair. I can do whatever hairstyle I want.’
But Bankstown shop assistant Mirna held her hands up and shook them vehemently when asked about her opinion about a burqa.
‘I’m Muslim, and I can’t do it, I don’t really like it myself,’ Mirna, who wears a hijab, says.
‘But other people choose to.
‘There’s other stuff we should worry about other than that. I’m just thankful for living in this country because it keeps me safe and I’m happy for that.
‘We just have to obey the rules here.’
While there are a range of coverings and veils worn by Muslim women around the world, the main types include a hijab, niqab or burqa.
Shazia told the Daily Mail that he doesn’t force his wife Najam (above) to wear a burqa and that she chooses to do so
A hijab is typically a headscarf that wraps around the head and neck but leaves the face clear, while a niqab is a veil for the face that leaves the area around the eyes visible.
The burqa is considered the most concealing of all – it is a one-piece veil that covers the face and entire body, with a mesh screen over the eyes.
Jamel Kheir, the Secretary of the Lebanese Muslim Association (LMA), labelled Hanson’s stunt as ‘dog whistling.’
‘She’s irrelevant in our eyes, she’s about as relevant as toilet paper and that’s the opinion of this community. But it sets a very dangerous precedent’ Mr Kheir said.
‘The unfortunate reality in Australia is that the Muslim community always seems to be fair game…
‘I challenge anyone in Parliament, and not that I’m saying it’s a good thing, it’d [be] disgusting, but go wear the Jewish skull cap and see how ‘respectful’ they’d view that.’
Mr Kheir said Muslim women who choose to wear a burqa more often do it for cultural reasons than adhering to religious law.
‘The religious requirement is for women to ‘cover’… and that is for a woman to decide how she wants to interpret that,’ he said.
Pauline Hanson is seen wearing the burqa on the Senate floor on Monday
He added: ‘Do we condemn women walking half-naked in the street? No, we don’t. This is what we accept as part of liberal democratic Australia.
‘If politicians want to decide on what we can and can’t wear then we’re heading towards the idea of a communist country.
‘Well, if Australia wants that, then vote for Pauline Hanson.’
Keysar Trad, founder of the Islamic Friendship Association of Australia, agreed.
‘Hanson forgets that many of those everyday Australians she tries to appeal to are Muslim women who do not want anyone to dictate to them how they dress,’ he told the Daily Mail.
‘These women face increased levels of intimidation and harassment and women who wear a scarf generally find it difficult enough to get a job, without a nutty member of parliament going after them.’
He also said his niece is the only person in his family who wore a burqa, with some women in his family choosing to go without any religious garments.
‘I asked her ‘Why? What made you do it?’ and she said it was her choice. So when (women) tell you that, you have got to respect it,’ he added.
‘If she gets harassed (because of Hanson’s stunt), then she’ll stay at home more often.’
