LONDON: An Australia senator has sparked fury for blaming “Muslim immigration” for the terrorist attack that killed 49 people in mosques in New Zealand.
The attacks, which involved a white supremacist gunman, drew global condemnation. But Fraser Anning, a senator from Queensland, tweeted “Does anyone still dispute the link between Muslim immigration and violence?”
Does anyone still dispute the link between Muslim immigration and violence?
— Senator Fraser Anning (@fraser_anning) March 15, 2019
A day after his controversial statements, Anning was egged by a teenager midway through a press conference in Melbourne, where the senator was caught on video assaulting the boy in response.
A local news station captured footage of Australian Senator Fraser Anning being egged by a teenager during a press conference in Melbourne, a day after the senator's controversial tweet blaming “Muslim immigration” for the #NewZealandTerroristAttack https://t.co/8b0cBzM70d pic.twitter.com/PVjYWi32Jg
— Arab News (@arabnews) March 16, 2019
The 17-year-old boy was tackled to the ground by a group of men after the incident and arrested by the police, but was later released without charges, according to local media.
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison took to Twitter on Friday to express his “disgust” of Anning's remarks, adding “those views have no place in Australia, let alone the Australian Parliament.”
The remarks by Senator Fraser Anning blaming the murderous attacks by a violent, right-wing, extremist terrorist in New Zealand on immigration are disgusting. Those views have no place in Australia, let alone the Australian Parliament.
— Scott Morrison (@ScottMorrisonMP) March 15, 2019
In another statement he said: “As always, leftwing politicians and the media will rush to claim that the causes of today’s shootings lie with gun laws or those who hold nationalist views, but this is all clichéd nonsense.
“The real cause of bloodshed on New Zealand’s streets today is the immigration program, which allowed Muslim fanatics to migrate to New Zealand in the first place.”
His statement was immediately condemned both in Australia, New Zealand and around the world.
At a time for grieving and reflection, this Australian senator @fraser_anning fans the flames of violence & extremism. Australians will be utterly ashamed of this racist man. In no way does he represent our Australian friends https://t.co/uzezIeNjbN
— Sajid Javid (@sajidjavid) March 15, 2019
Australia’s Prime Minister Scott Morrison described his comments as “disgusting.”
“Those views have no place in Australia, let alone the Australian parliament.”
UK Home Secretary Sajid Javid accused the senator of stoking extremism.
“At a time for grieving and reflection, this Australian senator … fans the flames of violence and extremism.
“Australians will be utterly ashamed of this racist man. In no way does he represent our Australian friends,” Javid added.
Anning caused widespread offense last year when he used the term “final solution” in calling for a revival of a “White Australia” restrictive immigration policy.
"The Senator's use of the term 'final solution'...is a phrase torn from the darkest pages of human history."
Australian Senator, Fraser Anning, is heavily criticised after calling for an end to Muslim immigration in his maiden speech. pic.twitter.com/YQgPswD9n0
— Channel 4 News (@Channel4News) August 15, 2018
