Clive Palmer has hit back at senator Jacqui Lambie over her latest comments on the burka and sharia law.
Senator Jacqui Lambie struggles to explain sharia law
In an interview on the ABC's Insiders program yesterday, Senator Lambie was unable to explain sharia law and said it involved terrorism.
Some commentators described the interview as a "train wreck", ABC political reporter Andrew Greene said, while others likened Senator Lambie to former One Nation leader Pauline Hanson, who famously responded "please explain" when asked if she was xenophobic.
Sharia law: an overview
Source: Aaron Hughes: Muslim Identities: An Introduction to Islam
- The Koran, the holy book of Islam, uses the term sharia to refer to the revealed guidance and directives given by Allah.
- It is formed from the writings of the Koran, as well as the Sunnah - the teachings, deeds, and sayings of the Prophet Mohammed.
- Sharia is not just a set of laws, but rather an ideology that encompasses the Islamic way of life, covering topics from business transactions to food.
- Islamic scholars use fiqh - jurisprudence - in order to apply the directives of sharia in modern-day situations.
- Sharia is considered fixed, while fiqh is flexible and can vary depending on the context.
- Far from being something that could 'replace' Australian constitutional law, sharia encourages Muslims to comply with the laws of their country of residence.
In a statement posted to Twitter, Mr Palmer said Australians need to remain united.
"Australians need to remain united, we are a rich & diverse nation who enjoy a special country," he said.
"Challenge is dealing w/budget & measures that attack the fabric of society. We must think about who & what we are & where we want to go.
"We have strong obligations towards each other. We have lots in common, we love our families, freedom & our efforts to help each other," he tweeted.
The interview came after Senator Lambie posted a photo to her Facebook page of an Afghan policewoman shooting a gun while wearing a burka with a caption calling for the garment to be banned.
The post was widely criticised, including by the photographer who took the image in Afghanistan, Lana Slezic, who labelled it appalling and insulting.
