Federal Court rejects free speech defence and upholds racial vilification finding over comments directed at a Muslim senator
2-MIN READ2-MIN ListenAgence France-PressePublished: 2:17pm, 27 Jul 2026A popular far-right Australian politician failed on Monday to overturn a racial vilification finding that was handed down after she told a Muslim senator to go back to Pakistan.
Senator Pauline Hanson has emerged as one of Australia’s most popular politicians, wooing voters with calls for strict immigration curbs, mass deportations of “illegal migrants” and enhanced free speech protections.
Hanson took aim at Pakistan-born Australian lawmaker Mehreen Faruqi in 2022 over comments made in the wake of Queen Elizabeth’s death.
Faruqi, a left-leaning Greens senator, said she could not mourn the “leader of a racist empire built on stolen lives, land and wealth of colonised people”.
Hanson replied on social media: “When you immigrated to Australia you took every advantage of this country.
“You took citizenship, bought multiple homes, and a job in a parliament.
“It’s clear you’re not happy, so pack your bags and p*** off back to Pakistan.”
