Australian politician Pauline Hanson, leader of One Nation, a right-wing political party with a populist, conservative and anti-multiculturalism platform, says Islam is not a religion of peace. In fact, she said she doesn't believe it's a religion at all.
Hanson, who's set to return to Australia's federal parliament after nearly 20 years, insists she's not out to offend Australian Muslims, reports The Australian. She said it's time to turn the spotlight on Islam, and what's being preached in Australia's mosques and taught in local Islamic schools.
According to The Australian, Hanson demanded a royal commission into whether Islam is a religion or a political ideology. She reportedly also wants to stop further Muslim immigration and halt the intake of Muslim refugees. Additionally, she called for a referendum regarding changes to the part of the constitution that offers protection for the free practice of religion.
She wants surveillance cameras in all mosques and Islamic schools and for their teachings to be opened up to public scrutiny. She advocates a ban on the construction of new mosques, and on the burqa and niqab being worn in public.
"You have our values, our culture, and our way of life. You don't have a full burqa, you don't keep putting up mosques," she told reporters on Monday after learning she'll take a seat in the new Senate.
"I'd like to know what they are teaching in those mosques. You can't deny the fact that in these mosques they've been known to preach hate towards us."
Hanson poses the question, "Is this a society we want to live in?"
"I don't believe it is. Do you want to see terrorism on our streets here? Do you want to see our Australians murdered?"
She listed family law reform, job creation and halting foreign investment as higher priorities for her One Nation Party, which she believes could win between four and six Senate seats, reports The Australian.
Journalists are still asking her how she could invoke freedom of speech in defending some of her more controversial opinions, while also saying Muslim Australians shouldn't be able to build mosques. "It's got nothing to do with freedom of speech. We're talking about a political ideology," she said.
Hanson said she understands Australian Muslims would say Islam is a religion. "And they say it's a religion of peace. We know that's not true either."
The One Nation leader stated some Australians now were acknowledging she was right two decades ago when she used her maiden speech to warn Australia risked being swamped by Asians. "You go and ask a lot of people in Sydney, at Hurstville or some of the other suburbs. They feel they have been swamped by Asians," she said.
She said she would work with either a coalition or labor government, as she gears up to try to prompt changes. "Have a look at the vote I've pulled, and it will tell them they are clearly out of touch with the Australian people."
