Pauline Hanson has accused the Australian Federal Police of launching a plot to send her to jail after the One Nation leader claimed there are ‘no good Muslims’ in the country.
Hanson sparked widespread backlash over the remark made during a Sky News television interview this week and later issued what critics described as a half-hearted apology, saying she was sorry ‘if’ Muslims were offended.
The AFP confirmed to NCA Newswire on Friday that it had ‘received reports of crime in relation to this matter’ and was actively monitoring the situation.
The report sparked a scathing response from Hanson, who referenced a number of incidents.
‘In other words, they’re trying to use Labor’s new hate speech laws to put me back in jail,’ she posted on Friday afternoon.
‘Let me send a very clear message to those within Labor and the left side of politics. Stop gaslighting the Australian public.
‘None of us have forgotten what happened at Bondi prior to Christmas. We also haven’t forgotten what occurred at the Lindt Cafe, or to Curtis Cheng.
‘If Australia doesn’t speak up now – our nation will fall victim to the same issues being experienced across Europe, the UK, Canada and other western societies.’
Pauline Hanson hit back in response to reports that the AFP was investigating comments made by her
The One Nation leader claimed earlier this week that there are ‘no good Muslims’ in the country
Recent One Nation recruit Barnaby Joyce told the ABC that he ‘can’t really comment on it’ as he was unaware of the AFP statement.
“I don’t know anything about it. I need details. Who, where, what? What are we talking about?” he said.
Hanson appeared on Sky News on Wednesday to respond to the backlash her comments had drawn earlier in the week.
‘If there is a person out there who is a Muslim and does not support sharia law, female circumcision, child marriages, who (does) support our culture our way of life and our laws, then I apologise to you – if my comment has offended you,’ she told host Chris Kenny.
Hanson stopped short of retracting her broader concerns.
‘Why do I have to be shut down because I’m concerned about the future of this nation? Why am I shut down because I am concerned,’ she said.
‘I don’t want Australia to become like England. I don’t want a caliphate across the world, that’s [what] they’re pushing for. I don’t want to see sharia law. I don’t want the burqas worn by women.’
More to come.
Days later Hanson issued a semi-apology to those who might have been offended by her remarks but refused to take them back in full