Australian Court Upholds Racism Verdict Against Anti-Muslim Senator Pauline Hanson

Australian Court Upholds Racism Verdict Against Anti-Muslim Senator Pauline Hanson
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An Australian federal court has rejected an appeal by far-right Senator Pauline Hanson, upholding a previous ruling that her 2022 comments telling Muslim senator Mehreen Faruqi to “go back to Pakistan” amounted to unlawful racial vilification.

The Federal Court of Australia dismissed Hanson’s appeal on Monday, confirming a 2024 judgment that found her remarks represented a “strong form of racism” under Australian anti-discrimination law.

The case was brought by Faruqi, a Pakistan-born member of the Australian Greens, after Hanson responded to Faruqi’s criticism of the legacy of the late British Queen Elizabeth II. In a social media post, Hanson accused Faruqi of being ungrateful to Australia and told her to “pack your bags and … go back to Pakistan.”

Hanson argued that her comments were protected by freedom of speech and said they were made in response to what she considered disrespectful remarks about the former monarch. Following the court’s decision, she said she had wanted to express her criticism of Faruqi’s views.

The ruling has been described as a significant case concerning the limits of political expression and protections against racial discrimination in Australia.

Hanson, leader of the right-wing One Nation party, has long been associated with strict immigration policies and controversial statements on multiculturalism and Islam. Her party has gained increased public attention in recent years, with Hanson continuing to advocate for tighter immigration controls and major changes to government policies.

The decision comes amid broader discussions in Australia over rising concerns about Islamophobia, racism, and the treatment of minority communities.