An Australian far-right senator has been accused of racism after wearing a burqa in parliament in a stunt designed to further her efforts to have it banned in public.
Pauline Hanson wore the burqa on Monday shortly after she was denied permission to introduce a bill that would outlaw the burqa and other full-face coverings in public places. It is the second time that she has worn the burqa in parliament in an effort to impose a ban.
The Senate erupted in anger when Ms Hanson, 71, walked into the chamber wearing the burqa. Proceedings were suspended when she refused to remove it.
“This is a racist senator, displaying blatant racism,” said Mehreen Faruqi, a Muslim senator from New South Wales. Fatima Payman, an independent senator from the state of Western Australia, called the stunt “disgraceful”.
Australian leaders condemn stunt
Both Penny Wong, leader of Australia’s centre-left Labor government in the Senate, and Anne Ruston, deputy Senate leader for the opposition coalition, condemned Ms Hanson's actions.
Ms Wong called them “not worthy of a member of the Australian Senate” and moved a motion to suspend Ms Hanson for failing to remove the garment. After she refused to leave, Senate proceedings were suspended.
Ms Hanson, a senator for Queensland, first rose to prominence in the 1990s because of her strident opposition to immigration from Asia and to asylum seekers. She has long campaigned against Islamic clothing during her parliamentary career.
In a statement later posted on Facebook, Ms Hanson said her actions were in protest at the Senate rejecting her proposed bill.
“So if the Parliament won't ban it, I will display this oppressive, radical, non-religious head garb that risks our national security and the ill-treatment of women on the floor of our parliament so that every Australian knows what's at stake,” Ms Hanson said. “If they don't want me wearing it – ban the burqa.”
History of Islamophobic diatribe
She previously wore a burqa to parliament in 2017, also calling for a national ban at the time. Her One Nation party has four seats in the Senate, gaining two in May's general election due to rising support for far-right anti-immigration policies.
Ms Hanson left parliament when she lost her seat in 1998 and quit as One Nation’s leader in 2002. The firebrand politician was jailed in 2003 for several months for electoral fraud before her sentence was quashed.
In 2010, Ms Hanson abandoned plans to emigrate to the UK because “it's overrun with immigrants and refugees”.
But she returned to lead One Nation in 2014 and was re-elected in 2016. She used her first address to say “Australia was in danger of being swamped by Muslims”.
- with reporting from agencies
Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
How being social media savvy can improve your well being
Next time when procastinating online remember that you can save thousands on paying for a personal trainer and a gym membership simply by watching YouTube videos and keeping up with the latest health tips and trends.
As social media apps are becoming more and more consumed by health experts and nutritionists who are using it to awareness and encourage patients to engage in physical activity.
Elizabeth Watson, a personal trainer from Stay Fit gym in Abu Dhabi suggests that “individuals can use social media as a means of keeping fit, there are a lot of great exercises you can do and train from experts at home just by watching videos on YouTube”.
Norlyn Torrena, a clinical nutritionist from Burjeel Hospital advises her clients to be more technologically active “most of my clients are so engaged with their phones that I advise them to download applications that offer health related services”.
Torrena said that “most people believe that dieting and keeping fit is boring”.
However, by using social media apps keeping fit means that people are “modern and are kept up to date with the latest heath tips and trends”.
“It can be a guide to a healthy lifestyle and exercise if used in the correct way, so I really encourage my clients to download health applications” said Mrs Torrena.
People can also connect with each other and exchange “tips and notes, it’s extremely healthy and fun”.
Who was Alfred Nobel?
The Nobel Prize was created by wealthy Swedish chemist and entrepreneur Alfred Nobel.
- In his will he dictated that the bulk of his estate should be used to fund "prizes to those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind".
- Nobel is best known as the inventor of dynamite, but also wrote poetry and drama and could speak Russian, French, English and German by the age of 17. The five original prize categories reflect the interests closest to his heart.
- Nobel died in 1896 but it took until 1901, following a legal battle over his will, before the first prizes were awarded.
Tips for job-seekers
- Do not submit your application through the Easy Apply button on LinkedIn. Employers receive between 600 and 800 replies for each job advert on the platform. If you are the right fit for a job, connect to a relevant person in the company on LinkedIn and send them a direct message.
- Make sure you are an exact fit for the job advertised. If you are an HR manager with five years’ experience in retail and the job requires a similar candidate with five years’ experience in consumer, you should apply. But if you have no experience in HR, do not apply for the job.
David Mackenzie, founder of recruitment agency Mackenzie Jones Middle East
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
Wicked: For Good
Director: Jon M Chu
Starring: Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh, Ethan Slater
Rating: 4/5
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