Lambie’s attempt to ban niqab ‘a joke’

Members of the Muslim community have labelled United Palmer Senator Jacqui Lambie’s latest attack on the niqab as ‘a joke’.

In a media statementMs Lambie outlined her draft bill, which would see people with face coverings in public fined on the spot up to $3,400 and a potential prison sentence for parents, if found guilty of forcing their teenage girls to wear the hijab or niqab.

Her bid to outlaw the controversial face covering comes after an ASIO report stated that banning the niqab could create further tension between communities.

Lawyer and representative of the Muslim Legal Network, Lydia Shelly told SBS the laws are an attempt to score cheap political points.

“They need to stop discussing such trivial issues regarding Australian Muslim women, they need to stop politicising Muslim women to their own benefit and they need to get back to the real issues affecting this country. What a woman chooses to wear is not a major issue affecting this country. If it is, I really and sincerely doubt the intentions of parliamentarians in representing the community effectively. “

In a statement to the media, Ms Lambie claimed, “once again our enemies will laugh at us” if the bill fails to pass in parliament.

“If you’re talking about wearing the burqa it’s not a religious item. If you read the Koran, it’s not in the Koran,” she said.

Party leader Clive Palmer made no comment on Senator Lambie’s bill.

“I haven’t seen it, I don’t know what you’re talking about ... I haven’t seen anything about it, I haven’t heard anything about it, I would have to know about it before I could comment on it ... I wouldn’t comment on it until I saw the legislation,” he said.

Ms Shelly says what Muslim women wear is not a topic of discussion for politicians.

“I actually don’t know any teenagers who are forced to wear the hijab or niqab … I wish she’d stop discussing such a trivial issue and get back to discussing the real issued affecting this country … she’s using this as a cover to just be a bigot.”

Senator Lambie did not respond to calls from SBS for comment.

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