Illawarra Muslim leaders have denounced Pauline Hanson’s first senate speech as a case of “recycled racism” and called on the region to reject One Nation’s messages of hate and division.
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In her maiden speech on Wednesday night, Ms Hanson repeated messages from her infamous 1996 speech, where she then warned of the “danger” posed by Asian immigrants.
However, this time Muslims were her main target.
“In my first speech in 1996 I said we were in danger of being swamped by Asians,” she told the senate.
“Now we are in danger of being swamped by Muslims, who bear a culture and ideology that is incompatible with our own.”
For Gary Ismail, from the Islamic Society of the Illawarra, these comments are “disappointing”, but unsurprising.
“It’s the same old thing, she’s just changed her target,” he said. “People should not believe the things that people like Pauline Hanson say, and we would encourage people find out information themselves, to go and meet real Muslims.”
Likewise, Omar Mosque chairman Dr Munir Hussain said Ms Hanson’s was an “opportunist politician” peddling “recycled racism”.
Along with other church leaders and non-faith groups, Dr Hussain and Mr Ismail are part of Illawarra People for Peace – a group formed three years ago to promote respect and understanding.
“The idea was to promote peace, irrespective of faith, and we have been successful in many respects,” Dr Hussain said.
“Particularly in the Illawarra, we are living in peace and harmony – we’re a shining example and we need to keep living up to that.
“We have had no Reclaim Australia demonstrations here, and when we applied for a [development application] for our mosque there were only three people who spoke about the plans – not like in Bendigo [where residents launched a public protest against a planned mosque].”
Joining with the two men on Friday, Uniting Church reverend Geoff Flynn said the peace group would continue to promote harmony, despite Ms Hanson’s resurgence. Illawarra People for Peace will hold a gathering in Crown Street Mall next Wednesday at 1.30pm to mark the United Nations’ International Day of Peace.