An Australian senator has been suspended from parliament for a week after wearing a burqa inside the chamber to protest a ban on the Islamic garment. Senator Pauline Hanson of the anti-immigration One Nation party faced backlash for her actions, with critics labeling it a “middle finger to people of faith.” The Senate voted 55 to five on a motion condemning her actions as “intended to vilify and mock people on the basis of their religion,” according to CBS News.

Hanson refused to remove the burqa during the session, leading to her suspension for the remainder of that day. She defended the protest, stating it was about “equality for all Australians” and rejecting accusations of vilifying or mocking Muslims. The move marked the first time she faced punishment for wearing the garment, having previously done so in 2017 to highlight security concerns linked to terrorism.

The suspension will continue when parliament reconvenes in February next year after its holiday break. Hanson’s actions sparked outrage among fellow senators, with Australian Greens leader Larissa Waters describing the protest as “extremely racist and unsafe.”