One Nation leader Pauline Hanson has denied responsibility for an incident in which a group of her supporters stormed a church service in an anti-Islam stunt, and compared her situation to that suffered by the Muslim community after the Lindt cafe siege.
But her anti-Islam party, which is enjoying a recent political resurgence, has warned of "civil unrest on our streets" if public concern about Islam is not addressed.
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Hanson supporters disrupt church service
Party for Freedom members dressed in mock Muslim clothing interrupted the morning sermon at Gosford Anglican Church on Sunday.
About 10 members of the Party for Freedom on Sunday disrupted the morning sermon at the Gosford Anglican Church, which is widely known for its embrace of multiculturalism and refugees. A sign at the front of the church frequently bears messages critical of Australia's hardline border protection polices.
The Party for Freedom is an anti-Islam, anti-immigration party whose Facebook page features Senator Hanson as its profile picture. The page describes her political comeback as "the greatest development in Australian politics in the past 20-odd years".
The group was dressed in Muslim-style attire and chanted anti-Islamic rhetoric. Some members of the congregation were left "deeply traumatised", said Father Rod Bower who was mid-sermon when the intrusion occurred.
Opposition Leader Bill Shorten slammed the stunt, saying the group was "way out of line staging a protest in a Christian church".
Australian Federation of Islamic Councils president Keysar Trad said the protest was a "low act" and claimed Senator Hanson "has inspired these people".
Senator Hanson is pushing for a royal commission into Islam, wants the intake of Muslim refugees and other migrants to cease and would ban the burqa and niqab in public places.
![Pauline Hanson says media should not blame her or One Nation for the Gosford church incident.](/web/20160816085852im_/http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/content/dam/images/g/q/9/j/8/e/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gqsr49.png/1471325591152.jpg)
On Monday she denied any responsibility for the incident.
"I think it's uncalled for for media to blame One Nation or myself for these actions, the same way as Islamic groups warned media of blaming them for [Lindt cafe gunman] Man Monis' behaviour," she said.
"There are concerns by a cross-section of Australians with Islam, border protection, terrorism and the government's immigration policy.
"However, the interruption of religious services ... [is] counterproductive in the serious argument One Nation are calling for in our Parliament.
"Let's have a proper debate as a community and leave the satire out of it."
A separate statement from One Nation said the party did not have any official affiliations with Party for Freedom, nor did it control how Senator Hanson's image was used.
But it said the incident reflects "that tensions are high in the community when it comes to the topic of Islam".
"Many Australians feel that politicians have not listened to their concerns regarding Islamic extremism and the teachings of Islam and this has given rise to parties such as One Nation and also to groups such as Reclaim Australia and Party for Freedom who do speak up," the party said.
"If these concerns are not addressed, we believe that there may come a time where there is civil unrest on our streets."
One Nation said the Gosford Anglican Church, through its high-profile sign, had "taken part in political conversations" by showing support for refugees and Muslims, which had drawn attention to the church and led to its being targeted.
Party for Freedom chairman Nick Folkes confirmed to Fairfax Media that he was among those in the church.
"We are not affiliated with One Nation but I do support Pauline Hanson," he said.
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