SBS.COM.AU: The first Muslim woman to be appointed to any parliament in Australia says her religion won’t be a major influence on her politics.
The first Muslim woman to be appointed to any parliament in Australia says her religion won’t be a major influence on her politics.
Mehreen Faruqi will take over from Greens MP Cate Faehrmann in the New South Wales upper house later this year.
The environmental engineer and university lecturer told SBS religion should play “no part” in politics, and rejected earlier claims from an Islamic Friendship Association spokesman that she could have difficulties reconciling issues such as gay marriage with Islamic teachings.
“We live in a democracy and [have] a secular system of government. I see no role that religion plays in government, and nor should it,” she said. » | Source: Rhiannon Elston, SBS | Tuesday, April 09, 2013
