Liberal candidate is dumped by her party after Facebook posts under her name called Muslims 'filthy' and said Islamic women should suffer FGM and be sold as slaves
- Liberal candidate has been dumped over Islamophobic posts on social media
- 'New information' was received by the party overnight after investigation
- The posts were made under the name of Liberal candidate Jessica Whelan
- Whelan has denied making the Islamophobic remarks about Muslim women
- Post stated women who supported Islam should be mutilated and sold as slaves
Jessica Whelan will be dumped from the Liberal Party candidate for the Tasmanian seat of Lyons after Facebook posts in her name advocated for Muslim women to be sold into slavery.
Liberal Party campaign spokesman Simon Birmingham revealed on Friday morning new information obtained overnight meant her position as the candidate for the seat of Lyons, in Tasmania, was no longer tenable.
'We won't tolerate that. We won't accept that. Scott Morrison has taken a strong stance in this regard,' he told the Today Show on Friday.
'I expect based on the information that has come to light overnight, the additional information, that she'll not be continued to be Liberal candidate.
'That will be a matter for the Tasmanian party to resolve swiftly this morning, but my understanding is they're taking steps to do so.'
Ms Whelan was accused in Parliament of advocating the genital mutilation of Muslim women and selling them as slaves, and of saying Tasmanians 'don't bloody want' to take in Syrian refugees.
She has strenuously denied the allegations, but stepped down as the candidate on Friday.
Liberal Party member Jessica Whelan (pictured) has been dumped as a candidate for the Tasmanian seat of Lyons following alleged Islamophobic posts
Ms Whelan will be 'dealt with' by the state branch of the party after 'new information' came to light overnight, campaign spokesman Simon Birmingham said
In a statement released on Thursday, the mother-of-two wrote: 'The comment on the post about 'feminists in America' appears to be have been digitally manipulated'.
'I strenuously deny making this comment. We will be referring it to the relevant authorities.'
On Friday, she admitted she had made 'some' of the posts.
'Jess Whelan vehemently maintains that she did not make the vulgar post reported in yesterday's media,' Friday's statement said.
'However, she accepts that she has made some of the other posts in question.'
Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Thursday said Ms Whelan had referred the matter to the Australian Federal Police.
'I don't think it's hard to believe in this day and age that the images can be doctored,' he told reporters in Tasmania.
A spokesperson for AFP did not comment when asked if a report had been filed, and only said: 'The AFP is aware of media reporting in relation to the matter'.
A Facebook profile under the candidate's name recently commented on a post about US police officer Mohamed Noor, saying: 'He's a filthy Muslim!'
This was in response to Noor being found guilty of third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter of an Australian woman.
Her second alleged remark was under Reclaim Australia Rally's Facebook post about Iraqi and Syrian refugees being settled in New South Wales.
'Don't bloody send them to Tasmania. We don't want them. Nick McKim, the biggest waste of space in politics, does not represent Tasmanians,' the same account wrote, the ABC reported.
The damning comments surfaced after she was accused in Tasmanian parliament on Thursday of advocating genital mutilation of Muslim women and selling them as slaves.
The remark, made from a Facebook account under her name, was under Reclaim Australia Rally's Facebook post about Iraqi and Syrian refugees being settled in New South Wales
This was in response to US police officer Mohamed Noor being found guilty of third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter of an Australian woman
Ms Whelan has strenuously denied the allegations and claims her social media account was hacked
The posts, which appeared under a video purporting to show 'feminists in America begging for Sharia Law', was made from a profile with Ms Whelan's name and photo.
'Round them up Donald, cut their clitoris' (sic) off & sell them to Muslims in Muslim countries & cancel their passports. You'll make a mint,' the message allegedly stated.
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Another Facebook comment, which appeared alongside Ms Whelan's profile, allegedly stated they (Muslims) should not be allowed to live in Australia.
'Given that your profile states you went to College at 'Never lose hope in ALLAH'.. I hope you're bloody NOT on our housing waiting list. You shouldn't even be in Australia if you believe in ALLAH!' the message allegedly stated.
Julie Collins, the sitting Labor member for another Tasmanian seat in Franklin, called on Prime Minister Scott Morrison to drop Ms Whelan as a candidate over the posts.
The comment, which appeared on a video purporting to show 'feminists in America begging for Sharia Law', was made from a profile with Ms Whelan's name and photo
'This is a test of Scott Morrison's leadership - he must sack his disgraced candidate for Lyons,' Ms Collins said.
Coalition frontbencher David Littleproud said Ms Whelan deserves due process from the party.
'I'm not privy to those conversations or investigations but I'm sure that they are being done in a thorough way,' Mr Littleproud told ABC TV on Thursday.
The minister said only a minority of Australians hold the views espoused in the posts.
Another Facebook comment, which appeared alongside Ms Whelan's (pictured) profile, allegedly stated they (Muslims) should not be allowed to live in Australia
Coalition frontbencher David Littleproud said Ms Whelan (pictured) deserves due process from the party
'They're not views that I hold in any way, shape or form, and I don't think any, or the majority of Australians, would.'
Ms Whelan is the latest of a string of candidates at the federal election to be in hot water over online posts.
On Wednesday, two Liberal candidates were dumped over online posts - one for homophobic remarks and the other for anti-Islam rant.
A Labor candidate also apologised for sharing a rape joke and pornographic material on his Facebook page in 2012.
Franklin has been a Labor seat since winning it back from the Liberal Party in 1993.
Daily Mail Australia has reached out to Ms Whelan for comment.
