Victoria state parliament bans keffiyeh scarves
The Australian state of Victoria has made a controversial ruling, prohibiting Members of Parliament from wearing keffiyeh scarves, a symbol associated with Palestinian identity, within the parliamentary chambers.
The decision came after Green Party leaders sought clarification when their MPs were asked to remove their keffiyehs. In a joint ruling, both houses of the Parliament of Victoria deemed the scarf a “political” symbol, hence disallowing MPs from donning it.
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This ruling places the Victorian legislature among the few in the world to implement such a ban on this specific item of clothing.
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During a session on Wednesday, upper house president Shaun Leane instructed four Green Party MPs wearing keffiyehs to remove them. Green Party leader Ellen Sandell sought clarification on whether this ruling constituted a one-time occurrence or a permanent ban.
In response, lower house speaker Maree Edwards said: “Political paraphernalia and badges are not allowed in the house. My ruling stands.”
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But Mrs Sandell argued that MPs often wore items of clothing to show support for various causes, “all of which could arguably be seen as political”.
“An MP today is wearing a yellow pin, which could be perceived by some as support for the Israeli military. Others are wearing rainbow badges,” she added.
The speaker declined to comment and said further clarification could be sought from her office.
Greens MP Gabrielle de Vietri suspended from Parliament over Keffiyeh scarf
Greens MP Gabrielle de Vietri was asked to leave the floor of the Victorian parliament in Australia for wearing the keffiyeh. MP Samantha Ratnam was also told she couldn’t wear watermelon earrings.
The president of the upper house, and the speaker of the lower house, defended their ruling to ban the scarf, saying it was political.
@thenewsmovement Greens MP Gabrielle de Vietri was asked to leave the floor of the Victorian parliament in Australia for wearing the keffiyeh. MP Samantha Ratnam was also told she couldn’t wear watermelon earrings. The president of the upper house, and the speaker of the lower house, defended their ruling to ban the scarf, saying it was political. #victoria #australia #parliament