A prominent far-right Australian politician has lost her appeal against a legal finding that she racially vilified a Muslim senator by telling her to "go back to Pakistan." The decision was handed down by a three-judge panel of the Full Federal Court of Australia on Tuesday, upholding a landmark ruling from 2024.

The case stems from comments made by Senator Pauline Hanson in 2022 directed at Senator Mehreen Faruqi, a Pakistan-born member of the Greens party. The dispute began shortly after the death of Queen Elizabeth II, when Faruqi expressed on social media that she could not mourn the monarch, whom she described as the "leader of a racist empire built on stolen lives, land and wealth of colonised peoples." In response, Hanson posted that Faruqi had "taken every advantage" of Australia since immigrating, including citizenship, property ownership, and a parliamentary job, and told her to “pack your bags and go back to Pakistan.”

The Federal Court had ruled that Hanson’s remarks constituted a "strong form of racism" likely to offend, insult, humiliate, and intimidate Faruqi and other Muslims. Hanson challenged this decision, citing free speech protections, but the appeal was dismissed, leaving the original ruling intact.

Senator Faruqi, who moved to Australia in 1992 and is the first Muslim woman elected to any Australian parliament, welcomed the court's decision, stating that "hate speech is not free speech" and describing the judgment as a victory for those who have been told to return to their countries of origin.

In contrast, Hanson expressed disappointment with the ruling, arguing that it stifled public discourse and curtailed ordinary citizens’ ability to express personal views. She emphasized her objections to what she perceived as disrespect shown to the late Queen by Faruqi and others.

Hanson has been a divisive figure in Australian politics for decades. She founded the One Nation party, which has gained significant popularity in recent years. Her platform includes calls for strict immigration controls, mass deportations of individuals she describes as “illegal migrants,” and expanded free speech protections. Hanson has attracted comparisons to European hard-right politicians and has courted controversy over the years, including a previous parliamentary speech warning that Australia risked being "swamped" by Muslims and Asians, and a suspension last year after wearing a burka in parliament as part of a campaign against the garment.

The case highlights ongoing debates in Australia over racism, free speech, and the limits of political expression in the country’s multicultural society.