Australia has today reversed a proposal to segregate women who wish to wear a Muslim veil in Parliament in Canberra.
The controversial plan was announced on October 2. It stated that anyone wearing a face covering, including the full Muslim burqa or a niqab, would be seated in a glass enclosure usually reserved for visiting schoolchildren.
This was apparently in response to a rumour that a group of around 10 individuals, including some men, were planning to stage a protest in the public gallery.
However, Prime Minister Tony Abbott opposed the plan and reportedly urged lawmakers to "rethink" the decision.
It also prompted accusations of discrimination against Muslims, which is reported to have increased in Australia following increased anti-terrorism efforts by the government in the fight against ISIS.
Independent MP Andrew Wilkie denounced the proposal as "religious apartheid".
"The decision by the government to isolate, in their own rooms, burqa-wearers observing the parliament has no security merit at all," he said.
Race Discrimination Commissioner Tim Soutphommasane agreed. "Every Australian is entitled to fair treatment. No one should be treated as a second-class citizen, not least in their own parliament," he told ABC News 24.
Today it was announced that the plans would not go ahead.
Visitors will have to "briefly" show their face to security, but will then be allowed to move around Parliament with their face covered.
This will "enable DPS security staff to identify any person who may have been banned from entering Parliament House or who may be known, or discovered, to be a security risk," the Department of Parliamentary Services said in a statement.
"Once this process has taken place, visitors are free to move about the public spaces of the building, including all chamber galleries, with facial coverings in place."
