Government’s leader in the Senate Mathias Cormann and his opposition counterpart, Senator Penny Wong moved the motion in the Senate against Senator Anning’s comments blaming the Christchurch attack on Muslim immigration.
The motion was passed unanimously.
Australia’s first female Muslim Senator Mehreen Faruqi told SBS Urdu that Senator Anning has well and truly “crossed the line”.
"His comments were despicable that were seeking to further demonise Muslims in the wake of the Christchurch massacre.
“He does not deserve to be in parliament. The Greens are exploring every option to suspend him from Parliament. I have no doubt the community will make sure he is not re-elected in May.”
Senator Pauline Hanson was ill and One Nation Party abstained from voting on the censure motion.
Earlier the largest online petition in Australia’s history was tabled in the Parliament calling for Senator Anning’s removal.
“This shows that the community feels strongly that those who use hate speech and racism and who seek to divide us should not be in parliament.” Senator Faruqi said.
However, Senator Anning dismissed the petition and has said that the petition would not change his actions.
“Quite a lot of people have told us they're happy for me to stay where I’m at.”
On the query of presence of Islamophobia in Australia especially post Christchurch attack, Senator Faruqi told SBS Urdu that “it is unfortunately undeniable that there has been an atmosphere of Islamophobia in Australia for some years.”
“Many of us in the Muslim community have been highlighting that certain politicians and political parties, like One Nation, have been stoking the fires of hate and division. Other politicians have stood by and allowed this to happen, and even hoped that anti-migrant and anti-Muslim sentiment would win them votes. And some in the media, rather than scrutinising these politicians, have been amplifying their message.”
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