A FACEBOOK post by Senator Jacqui Lambie associating Afganistan's first policewoman and women's activist Malalai with terrorism, has caused a huge backlash.
But Senator Lambie has said the responses to her post urging Australia to ban the burqa as it was a security risk, was an overreaction.
"This police woman fought for freedom against the Sharia extremists, so I would have though part of her fight, was for the right for Afghani women not to wear a burka,'' Ms Lambie said.
"If there was a reason why this brave woman was shot, my guess is that it was because she chose to defy the Sharia extremists and submit to their threats - and dressed without their burka.''
Palmer United Party senator Jacqui Lambie claims Islamic law "involves terrorism" and says the burqa is a "national security" risk.
The Tasmanian PUP representative says any Australian Muslim who supports sharia should get out of the country. And appearing on the ABC on Sunday, Senator Lambie was asked what she understands sharia to mean.
"When it comes to sharia law, to me, it obviously involves terrorism," Senator Lambie said.
"Sharia law, you get it mixed up in … well if you're going to be a supporter of sharia law and you're not going to [pledge] allegiance to our constitution and Australian law then…you have that extremism when it comes to sharia law."
Senator Lambie, who denied she had a "problem" with Muslims, added: "If you're an extremist towards sharia law then you have no place in Australia."
She is campaigning, along with Liberal Senator Cory Bernardi, to have the burqa banned in Australia but has sparked condemnation by sharing on Facebook an image that the original photographer says is the "desecration" of her photograph of a Muslim policewoman wearing a burqa and holding a gun.
Senator Lambie did not retreat from her actions or comments and said on Sunday the burqa remained a threat to national security.
"I believe it's a national security issue and it's a security issue and it's just like anything else. It's like a motorbike helmet or it's like a balaclava. You cannot wear one. I will not allow you to wear that into my office because it's a security risk," she said.
Senator Lambie said she knew when she shared a meme first uploaded by a far-right British group campaigning against the burqa that the image was a photograph of a Taliban victim – Kandahar's first female police officer Malalai Kakar. Ms Kakar was murdered in 2008 by Taliban extremists. The photographer who captured the image, Lana Slezic, has expressed outrage at the way the image has been misused.
Senator Lambie said she shared the meme in support of Malalai Kakar.
"I already knew that before I posted that but of course the journalist jumped straight on my throat, went straight for my jugular and took it completely out of context," she said.
"I'm chosing [sic] this woman because she's a bloody hero, what she done [sic] was extremely heroic and she should always be remembered for that." She denied the image she shared was menacing.
Meanwhile, Senator Lambie has cast doubt on how much of a role her wealthy benefactor and party leader Clive Palmer had on her Senate victory.
"We have our argy-bargy," Senator Lambie said of her relationship with Mr Palmer.
The senator predicted she would "eventually outsmart" her leader and warned she would cross the floor on issues she felt strongly about but that conflicted with her party's position.
"If it's that important to me I'll cross the floor on my party, that's what I'll do if that's what it takes," she warned.
Senator Lambie said she was disappointed the party agreed to allow the Schoolkids Bonus payments to parents to expire in 2017.
Mr Palmer sought to distance himself from Senator Lambie's comments in a series of tweets posted shortly after her television interview.
