Pauline Hanson ‘good muslim’ update: One Nation Leader offers apology to some after contentious interview

One Nation Leader Pauline Hanson has doubled down on her controversial recent comments about Muslims, while offering an apology of sorts, saying Australians are living in fear.

On Sky News on Monday, Senator Hanson said: “I’ve got no time for radical Islam, their religion concerns me because what it says in the Quran — they hate Westerners, and that’s what it’s all about.”

“You say ‘oh well, there’s good Muslims out there’ well, I’m sorry, how can you tell me there are good Muslims?”

“If jihad is ever called... and people must understand this.”

The comments have sparked debate, with some agreeing with Senator Hanson and many calling her out over her comments lumping Muslims in with Islamic extremism.”

Islam is the second-largest religion in Australia, with more than 800,000 Muslims recorded in the 2021 Census, representing about 3.2 per cent of the population.

Responding to the comments on Wednesday, and to condemnation about her comments from Muslim Imams and even Nationals Senator Matt Canavan, Senator Hanson said she expected the backlash.

“Of course they’re going to say that,” she said, before saying she had heard “more hateful” things come out “of the mouths of Imams” in Sydney, she told ABC News Breakfast.

Senator Hanson said she experienced first hand in Bondi, following the December 14 terror attack, that people were “living in fear”.

“We need to know who we are bringing into the country,” Senator Hanson said, adding she opposed “ISIS brides coming here into Australia”.

Asked to clarify if she “genuinely” believed there were no good Muslims in Australia, Senator Hanson said “no”.

“One woman who stood for me was a Muslim, not a practising Muslim,” she explained.

“If I have offended anyone out there that doesn’t believe in multiple marriages, sharia law, or wants to bring ISIS brides in, or people that believe in the caliphate, I apologise to you for my comments.

“In general, that is what they want, a world caliphate.

“I am not apologising and I will have my (voice heard) before it is too late.

“I am at the end of my life and I worry about the future of this nation.”

Hanson says non-Muslims not welcome in Lakemba

Senator Hanson accused Federal politicians of “bending over backwards” to secure votes from Muslims in their electorates, something she won’t be doing.

“I won’t apologise for that. I love this country, I love our culture and our way of life. A lot of these people don’t and would dearly love change it,” she added.

Senator Hanson said she supported the Liberal Party policy to ban immigration from 13 countries with terror hot spots.

“We don’t know who these people are. 18,000 people on ASIO’s watch list, doesn’t that tell you something?” she said.

Senator Hanson suggested that Australians who are not Muslim can now not enter certain suburbs in Australia, singling out the Western Sydney suburb of Lakemba.

“I have been there myself in Lakemba. You feel unwanted. You aren’t wanted to be there.”