An Australian man who started a petition to kick Senator Fraser Anning out of Parliament over his anti-Muslim comments believes he should resign after collecting more than 1.3 million signatures.
Handing over the petition on Thursday to Greens Senator Mehreen Faruqi, Australia's first female Muslim Senator, Melbourne writer Harris Sultan said the independent Queensland senator could not ignore that many people.
"If he has any dignity left, he should resign from his position himself," Mr Harris told SBS News.
SBS News
Mr Sultan has never started a petition before, but when he heard what the former One Nation candidate said on the day of the Christchurch attacks, he said he felt compelled to do something.
Part of his statement released following the massacre said the "real cause of bloodshed on New Zealand streets today is the immigration program which allowed Muslim fanatics to migrate to New Zealand in the first place".
"Whilst this kind of violent vigilantism can never be justified, what it highlights is the growing fear within our community, both in Australia and New Zealand, of the increasing Muslim presence," it continued.
AAP
Mr Harris, who has Muslim family members, said: "It was very hurtful when Fraser Anning said what he said".
"He basically condemned my entire family and said they shouldn't be in Australia when they are living in Australia peacefully and paying taxes like anyone else."
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Mr Harris said he had been overwhelmed by the response to the petition, which was merged with another on the same topic, started by Sydney doctor Kate Ahmad.
"The Australia that I know and love has values, values that promote peace and harmony, love and tolerance and this petition has proved in a very loud voice that we don't abandon our values, we don't abandon the ship, we don't let go of our communities or values in difficult times," Mr Harris said.
Senator Anning said on Monday he had no regrets about the comments he made and would await the result of the federal election in May.
