Australian official slams Hanson's 'no good Muslims' remark

2026-02-22 - 06:42

Australia's Race Discrimination Commissioner, Giridharan Sivaraman, has issued a strong rebuke against anti-Muslim remarks made by Pauline Hanson, the leader of the right-wing One Nation party, warning that such language incites violence. Sivaraman's condemnation follows Hanson's televised statement claiming there were "no good Muslims," comments that have since been reported to the Australian Federal Police for investigation. Official Warns of Dangerous Rhetoric In an interview with SBS News, Commissioner Sivaraman expressed deep concern over the rhetoric, stating that when a public figure "demonizes and dehumanizes a whole group of people, that's a green light to violence from others." He emphasized that such statements embolden individuals to act violently against the targeted community, drawing a direct link between hateful language and physical harm. "It's making out that a group of people are somehow lesser or don't belong or are bad, and that's exactly what she's doing," he added. Conditional Apology and Backlash Hanson, whose party is known for its populist, anti-immigration stance, made the controversial remarks during a Sky News interview last week. Following public outcry and confirmed criminal complaints, she offered a partial backtrack on Wednesday. Hanson issued a conditional apology, stating, "If I've offended anyone out there that doesn't believe in Sharia law... then I apologize." However, she immediately doubled down on her broader claim, insisting, "But in general, that's what they want — a world caliphate — and I'm not going to apologize." Ongoing Concern Over Islamophobia The incident has reignited debate in Australia over the impact of political discourse on community harmony. The Race Discrimination Commissioner's public intervention highlights official concerns that inflammatory language from political leaders can legitimize prejudice and pose a tangible threat to the safety and well-being of Australian Muslims.