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Jacqui Lambie says criticism over burqa post is a 'gross overreaction' Jacqui Lambie says criticism over burqa post is a 'gross overreaction'
(35 minutes later)
Palmer United party senator Jacqui Lambie says criticism of her use of an image of Afghanistan’s first female policewoman, Malalai Kakar, as part of an anti-burqa campaign is a “gross overreaction” and Kakar would have supported her view, knowing how easy it is to “conceal weapons or bombs” in a burqa.Palmer United party senator Jacqui Lambie says criticism of her use of an image of Afghanistan’s first female policewoman, Malalai Kakar, as part of an anti-burqa campaign is a “gross overreaction” and Kakar would have supported her view, knowing how easy it is to “conceal weapons or bombs” in a burqa.
The image, shared by Lambie on Facebook, is of Kakar in a burqa holding a gun and has been edited with the caption: “Terror attack level: severe – an attack is highly likely. For security reasons it’s now time to ban the burqa.”The image, shared by Lambie on Facebook, is of Kakar in a burqa holding a gun and has been edited with the caption: “Terror attack level: severe – an attack is highly likely. For security reasons it’s now time to ban the burqa.”
Kakar was shot by the Taliban in 2008 outside of her home in front of her young son after campaigning for women’s rights and against extremism.Kakar was shot by the Taliban in 2008 outside of her home in front of her young son after campaigning for women’s rights and against extremism.
The photographer, Lana Slezic, criticised Lambie saying she was desecrating the memory of Kakar.The photographer, Lana Slezic, criticised Lambie saying she was desecrating the memory of Kakar.
But Lambie accused Slezic of “viciously attacking” her, saying her response was “an explosion of vitriol” and Kakar would have been “the first to agree” with Lambie’s anti-burqa campaign.But Lambie accused Slezic of “viciously attacking” her, saying her response was “an explosion of vitriol” and Kakar would have been “the first to agree” with Lambie’s anti-burqa campaign.
“As a police officer she would have known how easy it was to conceal weapons or bombs capable of killing large numbers of innocents under a burka,” Lambie said in a statement released on Saturday night.“As a police officer she would have known how easy it was to conceal weapons or bombs capable of killing large numbers of innocents under a burka,” Lambie said in a statement released on Saturday night.
“She would have known how much safer it would be in public if the burka was banned. This story is a disgusting, unprofessional beat up – which will embolden and put a smile on the faces of the sharia extremists.”“She would have known how much safer it would be in public if the burka was banned. This story is a disgusting, unprofessional beat up – which will embolden and put a smile on the faces of the sharia extremists.”
Lambie said her Facebook post honoured Kakar and her “deadly struggle against brutal thugs and extremists”.Lambie said her Facebook post honoured Kakar and her “deadly struggle against brutal thugs and extremists”.
“This policewoman fought for freedom against the Sharia extremists – so I would have thought part of her fight, was for the right for Afghan women not to wear a burka,” she said.“This policewoman fought for freedom against the Sharia extremists – so I would have thought part of her fight, was for the right for Afghan women not to wear a burka,” she said.
“If there was a reason why this brave woman was shot, my guess is that it was because she chose to defy the sharia extremists and submit to their threats - and dressed without their burka.”“If there was a reason why this brave woman was shot, my guess is that it was because she chose to defy the sharia extremists and submit to their threats - and dressed without their burka.”
The post was originally made by the far-right UK party Britain First, without the permission of Slezic, who has tried to contact both the party and Lambie to ask them to take down the image.The post was originally made by the far-right UK party Britain First, without the permission of Slezic, who has tried to contact both the party and Lambie to ask them to take down the image.
The picture was taken in 2005 as Kakar prepared to head out on a mission to free a kidnapped teenager, throwing a burqa over her Afghan national police uniform at the last minute.
“This is not what I wanted for this photograph,” Slezic said. “To see an image of her and all she still represents used this way is such an insult to her and her family and all the women in Afghanistan. I don’t even have the words to describe it.
“Here’s a woman whose life was taken by terrorists, extremists in the most horrific way,” Slezic said. “She died in front of her son, shot to death outside her home on her way to work.“Here’s a woman whose life was taken by terrorists, extremists in the most horrific way,” Slezic said. “She died in front of her son, shot to death outside her home on her way to work.
“Everything she stood for, everything she fought for, for herself, her family, her daughters and future of her country, everything has been desecrated by how Jacqui Lambie and Britain First have used this photograph.“Everything she stood for, everything she fought for, for herself, her family, her daughters and future of her country, everything has been desecrated by how Jacqui Lambie and Britain First have used this photograph.
“I’m outraged actually [that] they would steal a photograph without any sort of consent.”“I’m outraged actually [that] they would steal a photograph without any sort of consent.”
Lambie also criticised the ABC for quoting Slezic. “Anyone reading the ABC story could be forgiven for thinking it was me who gunned down the Afghan policewoman,” her statement said.Lambie also criticised the ABC for quoting Slezic. “Anyone reading the ABC story could be forgiven for thinking it was me who gunned down the Afghan policewoman,” her statement said.
“I wonder what background briefing this ABC reporter gave to this photographer?”“I wonder what background briefing this ABC reporter gave to this photographer?”