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Hanson invited to Qld mosque open day

One Nation leader Pauline Hanson is being invited to a central Queensland Islamic community's open day to discuss her anti-Muslim views over fish and chips.

Pauline Hanson's One Nation leader Senator
One Nation leader Pauline Hanson is being invited to a central QLD Islamic community's open day. (AAP)

A central Queensland Islamic community wants Pauline Hanson to share fish and chips and discuss her views on Islam at their open day.

The One Nation leader was holding a free forum on jobs and prosperity in Rockhampton on Friday evening.

During her maiden Senate speech this week, Ms Hanson said Australia was in danger of being "swamped by Muslims" and called for an end to Muslim immigration.

Muslims, she argued, bore "a culture and ideology that is incompatible with our own".

The Islamic Society of Central Queensland extended an interview to Ms Hanson during a radio interview. However she later insisted they should go through her office.

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Secretary Binil Kattiparambil told AAP the group would formally invite her to their open day in late October.

"If she does accept our invitation, we'll have fish and chips for the open day," he said.

"We know that she used to run a fish and chips shop, and fish is halal and chips are halal, so it's good for both of us.

"We do have things in common, we'll work from there."

But Mr Kattiparambil also warned Ms Hanson's comments that the country is being "swamped" portrayed Muslims as being inherently dangerous, violent or anti-social people who do not fit in.

"When you target a particular group of people, whether it be by their faith, colour or cultural background, that is indeed racism - there's no doubt about it," he said.

He said the senator's views jeopardised efforts the community had made to educate people about their religion.

But the group is most concerned about potential backlashes.

"Ms Hanson has got to understand that when she targets Muslims openly, especially in the parliament, there will be people who want to spread hatred in the street and this is an open ticket for them to do something like that," Mr Kattiparambil said.

"Unfortunately the first people who feel the brunt will be the Muslim women, because they can be identified by the headscarves."


2 min read

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Source: AAP



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