Senator Pauline Hanson of One Nation was found guilty of racially discriminating against Greens Senator Mehreen Faruqi.
Supporters of One Nation have come together to support Hanson, raising nearly half a million dollars to aid her in fighting the ruling that determined she had engaged in racial discrimination.
Hanson is currently appealing the decision made by the Federal Court on Nov. 1, which found her in violation of the Racial Discrimination Act based on remarks she made in 2022, telling Senator Faruqi to return to Pakistan.
As a result of the ruling, Hanson was instructed to remove her comments and cover Faruqi’s legal fees.
The incident stemmed from a social media post by Faruqi on Sept. 9, 2022, where she expressed her lack of mourning for the late Queen Elizabeth II.
“Condolences to those who knew the Queen,” Faruqi wrote on X (formerly Twitter) following the news of the monarch’s passing.
“I cannot mourn the leader of a racist empire built on stolen lives, land, and wealth of colonized peoples.
On the other hand, Hanson responded to Faruqi by stating, “When you immigrated to Australia, you took advantage of this country,”
“It’s evident you’re not content, so pack your bags and go back to Pakistan,” she added.
Faruqi took legal action against Hanson to have the offensive comments removed.
Justice Angus Stewart concluded that Senator Hanson’s behavior was “seriously offensive” and intimidating.
The court heard how Faruqi felt insulted and humiliated by Hanson’s words, making her feel unwelcome in Australia.
Faruqi testified that she experienced sleepless nights and distress due to the trauma caused by the interaction with Hanson.
Funds Raised for Appeal
On Nov. 13, Hanson announced that donations had surpassed half of the funds needed for her appeal against the Federal Court’s decision.
“As many of you may be aware, I am appealing a recent court ruling brought against me by Greens Senator Mehreen Faruqi, a ruling that, in my opinion, threatens our freedom of speech,” she stated.
“Today, I am delighted to share that we have reached half of our appeal target. We have raised an impressive $550,126 (US$359,524.71) out of our $1 million goal, and I am incredibly grateful for every donation, message of support, and prayer.”
Hanson emphasized that the appeal was not just about the comments on X but about a broader issue.
“It is about safeguarding our right to express ourselves freely, even when our views may not be well-received by everyone,” she explained.
“Your backing demonstrates that many of you also uphold this principle, and that means a great deal to me.”
