Calls for presenter to be sacked

The ABC says Yassmin Abdel-Magied’s decision to delete controversial Facebook post and apologise “appropriate”.

Yassmin Abdel-Magied has been forced to apologise after complaints over her Anzac Day Facebook post.

The ABC says Yassmin Abdel-Magied’s decision to delete and apologise for a controversial Facebook post was “appropriate” as politicians criticise her suggestion people should be thinking of refugees instead of Australia’s fallen soldiers.

Abdel-Magied posted on her Facebook page: “Lest we forget (Manus, Nauru, Syria, Palestine)”, but then deleted it within hours of publishing, and wrote a brief ­apology amid complaints she had ­hijacked the Anzac memory for political and religious reasons.

• LATEST: Pressure grows over DFAT role

• LATEST: Joyce pushes the ABC to take action

In a statement, the ABC said Abdel-Magied, who hosts the ABC’s Australia Wide program, ‘acknowledged that the timing and nature of the post was disrespectful’.

“Yassmin Abdel-Magied published on ANZAC Day a post on her Facebook page that she subsequently retracted, apologised for and deleted. Ms Abdel-Magied acknowledged that the timing and nature of the post was disrespectful. Her decision to delete it and apologise was appropriate,” the statement read.

“Ms Abdel-Magied is a part-time presenter on the ABC program Australia Wide, introducing stories done by ABC reporters from around the country. When presenting for the ABC she works in accordance with ABC editorial and other policies.

“Ms Abdel-Magied is also engaged in a range of other activities and work that is not related to the ABC. Her views and opinions in that capacity are her own and do not represent those of the ABC.”

Hanson resumes ABC funding call

One Nation leader Pauline Hanson says Abdel-Magied’s controversial Facebook post shows any potential Australian citizen who does not “respect” Anzac Day should be told to leave the country.

Senator Hanson, who has long called for a ban on Muslim immigration, said she was “disgusted” at the ABC presenter’s comments and reiterated her push for the public broadcaster to lose funding.

“She’s not going to pull us together, she’s actually done her dash with most Australians who will never forgive her comments. Never, never forget her comments,” Senator Hanson said.

“She can apologise all that she wants but I don’t believe it is done in all sincerity. She knows she’s made a mistake and she’s fear of losing her job. And the ABC won’t sack her either, maybe they’re going to be in fear of (being) taken for racial discrimination if they do.

“Clearly her comments is a reason why the federal government in their citizenship test should actually ask new citizens their feelings about Anzac Day. If they don’t respect it, don’t allow them in this country.”

After spending Anzac Day in Cooktown, north of Cairns, Senator Hanson said commemorations meant “so much” to all Australians, including migrants.

“I saw their faces, I saw those from different cultural backgrounds who have the utmost respect (for) what Anzac Day means to Australians,” she said.

“And yet to hear Yassmin Abdul’s comments, I just think she has no understanding, she has no idea, yet the federal government has paid to travel the world and I think to promote her book. She’s been on the Australian 100 year commemoration to represent the youth, she wouldn’t have a clue. And working part-time at the ABC, let’s be honest about it, it’s tokenism, that’s all it is, tokenism.”

MPs slam comment

Federal MPs have also criticised ABC presenter Ms Abdel-Magied over her Anzac Day comment.

Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce said Australians were generally easy going people but took themselves “very seriously” during one day of the year – Anzac Day.

“It seems incredible that a person on the taxpayers’ chit comes out and makes a statement that is just so innocuous and so completely at 180 degrees to where the Australian people are on this issue,” he said.

Immigration Minister Peter Dutton declared the activist a disgrace and Queensland MP George Christensen demanded her sacking.

Mr Dutton attacked the ABC contributor, saying: “It is a disgrace that our most significant national day ... this advocate seeks to make political mileage.”

Mr Christensen said Abdel-Magied “should no longer be on the public broadcaster’s tax-funded payroll”.

Liberal MP Eric Abetz said he found the post “reprehensible’’.

“Yassmin Abdel Magied’s unfortunate and disrespectful Facebook post today, of all days, is deeply reprehensible.”

“Tens of thousands of Australians, from all walks of life, have gone to war and paid the ultimate sacrifice. Today, we pay tribute to them - not seek to use their sacrifice for cheap political point scoring as Ms Abdel Magied has done.”

“The freedom she enjoys to make such disrespectful comments is what the people whom we commemorate today fought and died for. But that is where self-discipline, respect and decency need to be added into the equation, something Ms Abdel Magied has displayed she lacks.”

Abdel-Magied, who hosts the ABC’s Australia Wide program, triggered a debate over Islam and feminism this year after claiming on Q&A that Islam was “the most feminist religion”.

Her initial comment yesterday sparked scores of outraged ­responses, with many accusing Abdel-Magied of disrespecting Australian soldiers.

“It was brought to my attention that my last post was disrespectful, and for that, I apologise unreservedly,” she said later.

An ABC spokeswoman said Abdel-Magied was required to ­adhere to ABC policies only “when presenting for the ABC”.

“Ms Abdel-Magied is a part-time presenter on the ABC program Australia Wide, introducing stories done by ABC reporters from around the country,” the spokeswoman said.

“Ms Abdel-Magied is also ­engaged in a range of other activities and work that is not related to the ABC.

“Her views and opinions in that capacity are her own and do not represent those of the ABC.”

Abdel-Magied did not ­respond to a request for comment.

Anger over comment

Ms Abdel-Magied posted the message on Tuesday afternoon, but swiftly removed the bracketed portion and apologised as people began to complain she had hijacked the Anzac memory for political and religious reasons.

“It was brought to my attention that my last post was disrespectful, and for that, I apologise unreservedly,” she said.

“No s**t it was disrespectful,” one person responded. “Don’t try and hide behind your words. You clearly said it with malicious intent.”

“Your previous post has completely discredited you,” another person said. “Not only have you disrespected those who gave their lives so you can enjoy Australian freedoms and speak your mind, you have very clearly voiced your real agenda here.”

The activist triggered a debate over Islam and feminism earlier this year after claiming on the ABC’s Q&A that Islam was “the most feminist religion”.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade last year paid for Ms Abdel-Magied to tour some of the world’s most repressive Islami­c regimes, including Saudi Arabia, promoting her book about being a Sudanese-Egypt­ian-Australian Muslim woman who wears the hijab.

Former prime minister Tony Abbott subsequently accused her of being “blindfolded” during the taxpayer-funded speaking tour of the ­Middle East and Africa.