Right-Wing Australian Senator Blames ’Muslim Immigration’ over New Zealand Attack

New Zealand is currently in mourning after 49 people were killed by a gunman in two mosques on Friday. The country has received an outpouring of support from the world except from one man.

An Australian right-wing senator has blamed the tragedy on “Muslim immigration.” In response, many lawmakers and politicians have condemned his utterances. 

Instead of condemning the gunman for killing 49 people in Christchurch, New Zealand, Australian Senator Fraser Anning turned the blame on Muslims. The senator shared his thoughts in a lengthy statement.

This is an official press release from Fraser Anning, an Australian Senator about the #NZMosqueShooting.

It is absolutely one of the most anti-Muslim and bigoted things I’ve read from a politician, and to come after a terrorist attack — unbelievable. pic.twitter.com/H1xgV22A4m

— Frederick Joseph (@FredTJoseph) March 15, 2019

Anning said the white supremacist shooter was motivated not by bigotry but by the “increasing Muslim presence” in Australia and New Zealand. He added, “Whilst this kind of violent vigilantism can never be justified, what it highlights is the growing fear within our community, both in Australia and New Zealand, of the increasing Muslim presence.”

Fraser Anning’s comments today are contemptible. He is a disgrace to the Senate and what is worse by spreading hatred and turning Australians against each other he is doing exactly what the terrorists want.

— Malcolm Turnbull (@TurnbullMalcolm) March 15, 2019

Don't know what to make of this. But we live in a world now where elected politicians can blame immigration on the actions of a self-described racist. #ChristchurchTERRORISTattack #Chirstchurch pic.twitter.com/tQbBD3Bqky

— Rod Graham (@roderickgraham) March 15, 2019

In the face of the tragedy that the country was facing, the politician boldly declared, “Let us be clear, while Muslims may have been the victims today, usually they are the perpetrators.” It wasn’t the first time that the senator uttered such an opinion.

Here is a man, Senator Fraser Anning, who is openly justifying terrorism & massacre of muslims in the name of immigration; if any Muslim Mullah will do it, he will soon find himself or his govt in trouble; Where is UN? https://t.co/aUA3shD6vJ

— Moeed Pirzada (@MoeedNj) March 15, 2019

Last August, he called for a “final solution” to the Muslim “immigration problem.” He even went as far as to evoke a reference to the Nazis’ “final solution” terminology which was used to target Jews during the Holocaust.

Senator Fraser Anning’s response to the NZ terrorist attack on 2 Mosques is to blame immigration & say that Muslims are usually perpetrators not victims.
This is hate speech, Islamaphobia & disgusting racism from an elected member of federal parliament.
Throw him out of politics. pic.twitter.com/sP2zpZVZQZ

— Daile Kelleher (@DaileKelleher) March 15, 2019

His stance was that a vote should be taken to ban Muslims from the country. Anning’s views weren’t shared by other lawmakers who, instead, spoke against the racist politician.

The politician appears to suffer from a strong sense of Islamophobia with nearly every tweet and speech containing anti-Muslim notes. Anning insisted that there was a “link between Muslim immigration and violence,” even though Friday’s mass murderer had targeted Muslims.

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Will UN Security Council Resolution. 1267 or any other consider putting New Zealand's Senator Fraser Anning - on Intl Terror List? He is not sitting inside a church; he is apparently preaching hatred as a Senator from nation's top political house https://t.co/DlIsIHR9l5

— Moeed Pirzada (@MoeedNj) March 15, 2019

The politician and the shooter, a man in his late 20’s, seem to have something in common. The gunman publicly posted a 74-page manifesto to Twitter and the online forum 8chan where he repeatedly declared his hatred for Muslims who had immigrated to predominantly white countries.

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

Australia’s Prime Minister Scott Morrison was one of the people who immediately denounced Anning’s views on the terror attack. Morrison said, “The remarks by Senator Fraser Anning blaming the murderous attacks by a violent, right-wing, extremist terrorist in New Zealand on immigration are disgusting.”