Federal police received reports over Pauline Hanson’s comments on Muslims

The Australian federal police said they had "received reports of a crime" in relation to comments made to the media by Pauline Hanson this week. An AFP spokesperson did not say whether they had begun a criminal investigation, only that they would have more to say "at an appropriate time" and that the force was "aware of comments made during a media interview earlier this week".

Bilal El-Hayek, the mayor of Canterbury Bankstown, said Hanson should face charges over her "highly inflammatory" comments about Muslims. In his council area more than 23% of residents are Muslim, according to the 2021 census, and he told the ABC that hate speech laws were "quite clear" with a reference to public incitement of hatred and violence.

Australia, Canterbury Bankstown

pauline hanson, afp, bilal el-hayek, canterbury bankstown, muslims, hate speech, inflammatory comments, criminal investigation, public incitement, 2021 census