By Zac de Silva in Canberra

Pauline Hanson has been accused of seriously misunderstanding Islam after going on an extraordinary anti-Muslim rant condemned by faith groups.

The One Nation leader claimed there were “no good Muslims” and suggested future generations would suffer if more Muslims were allowed into Australia.

The Australian National Imams Council president Shadi Alsuleiman has strongly rejected the firebrand senator’s comments.

“Her comments reflect a serious misunderstanding of Islam and the Muslim community,” he said in a statement on Tuesday.

“For many years, she has made inaccurate and harmful statements based on misinformation rather than genuine engagement.

“Muslims have contributed positively to the growth and advancement of this nation and continue to do so with pride and commitment.”

The comments follow an incendiary interview on Sky News, in which Senator Hanson claimed there was no such thing as a good Muslim.

“I’ve got no time for the radical Islam. Their religion concerns me because what it says in the Quran, they hate westerners,” she said.

“You say ‘oh well, there’s good Muslims out there’. Well I’m sorry, how can you tell me there are good Muslims?”

Senator Hanson later doubled down on her comments in a post on social media platform X.

“Some media is trying to claim I went on some kind of ‘tirade’ last night,” she said.

“I guess they aren’t used to hearing a politician tell the truth without worrying about political correctness. The fact is we have to ban the importation of radical Islam that hates western society, freedom of speech and equality before the law.”

Senator Hanson’s anti-immigration party has outpolled the Liberals and Nationals in recent surveys, prompting her to claim she is the “true opposition” in Australia.

But the Australian Muslim Advocacy Network challenged Senator Hanson to explain exactly what changes she would make if she were in a position to shape policy.

“Pauline Hanson should grow some spine and tell people what she would actually do on immigration,” a spokesperson said in a statement.

“Would she ban all Muslim immigration to Australia? Will she ban Islamic schools? Will she ban Muslim Australians from entering parliament?

“She never says. So how do her followers know that she isn’t just another sellout with big talk?” the spokesperson said.

Senator Hanson has a long history of targeting particular religious and ethnic groups, in and out of parliament.

In her maiden speech in 1996, she claimed Australia was in danger of being “swamped by Asians” – and 20 years later repeated that rhetoric, claiming the country was at risk of being swamped by Muslims.