‘Unhinged and insensitive’: Greens Senator Mehreen Faruqi slammed over ‘appalling’ tweet claiming Queen led ‘racist empire’
Mehreen #Mehreen
Comments made in the wake of Queen Elizabeth II’s death by Greens Senator Mehreen Faruqi have been slammed as “insensitive” and “ignorant”.
In a social media post just hours after Her Majesty’s death was announced, Ms Faruqi said she can’t “mourn the leader of a racist empire built on stolen lives, land and wealth of colonised peoples”.
“Condolences to those who knew the Queen,” she wrote on Twitter.
“I cannot mourn the leader of a racist empire built on stolen lives, land and wealth of colonised peoples.
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“We are reminded of the urgency of Treaty with First Nations, justice & reparations for British colonies & becoming a republic.”
The Senator’s tweet prompted outrage given how soon it was published after Her Majesty’s death.
Speaking to SkyNews.com.au, the Institute of Public Affairs’ Gideon Rozner said the “unhinged” rant was embarrassing for an Australian Senator.
“Mehreen Faruqi, Adam Bandt and the Greens should give it a rest. Just take the day off,” he said.
“Mehreen Faruqi’s unhinged and pig-ignorant contributions would be embarrassing for a second-year arts student, let alone a federal senator.
“The Greens’ perennial nihilism and historical revisionism may appeal to the 10 per cent of Australians who vote for them, but will always be toxic for the mainstream.”
Chairman of the Australian Monarchist League Eric Abetz also expressed his disappointment at Senator Faruqi’s “appaling” intervention.
“The insensitivity of the comments is matched by an ignorance of matters historical which combine to make for an unseemly intervention,” he told SkyNews.com.au.
“On an occasion where the world along with Australians are combining in their grief at the loss of our Queen of Australia noting the passing of an era and of a wonderful warm gracious human being we have a desperate attempt by a public figure unable to extend the common decencies and courtesies which should be extended in a civilised society.
“One hopes the senator gains the personal insight to understand how inappropriate her intervention has been.
“Her Majesty presided over the Commonwealth of Nations including many ethnicities peoples and cultures.
“To besmirch Her Majesty in the manner undertaken is appalling and completely flies in the face of the objective evidence.”
Ms Faruqi’s post comes just hours after Greens leader Adam Bandt was slammed for being “insincere” as he called for a republic.
“Rest In Peace Queen Elizabeth II,” Mr Bandt said.
“Now Australia must move forward.
“We need a Treaty with First Nations people, and we need to become a Republic.”
The Greens leader is a strong supporter of Australia becoming a republic and as a result refuses to display the Australian Flag behind him during press conferences.
He also showed support for indigenous Greens senator Lidia Thorpe calling the Queen “a coloniser” when swearing her oath of office in August.
Appearing on Sky News Australia shortly after was Nationals MP Barnaby Joyce, who said it’s not appropriate to push political agendas this soon.
“Today is not the day to play politics and this sort of buffoonery of using this as a soap box to push your political agenda,” he told host Tom Connell.
“Why not reflect on the dignity and grace of a human being whose passed away.”
Her Majesty, the longest-reigning monarch in British history, died aged 96 surrounded by family at her Balmoral home, with her son issuing a statement at about 4am AEST.