Jakarta, Indonesia : Demeaning, exploitative, degrading. Beauty pageants have been called lots of things.
And it's also the line
coming from Islamic hardliners, who are protesting this year's Miss
World Contest, which is held in the most populous Muslim nation in the
world.
Protesters in Indonesia
denounce the contest where women sashay in swimsuits and form-fitting
evening wear, calling it insulting to Muslims and triggering threats of
violence.
Islamic groups urged the
government to shut the contest down. Hardliners burned signs featuring
the image of last year's winner Wenxia Yu of China that read "Reject
Miss World." They also presented what they deemed as appropriate attire
for beauty contestants -- long dresses and full head scarves.
"It's only beauty, beauty
and beauty, but also body, body and body, so that's why we consider it
as a contest that exploits women physically," said Ismail Yusanto,
spokesman of Indonesia's Hizbut Tahrir, a conservative Islamic group.
In an attempt to appease
religious concerns, the pageant has scrapped the swimsuit competition
and replaced it with less-revealing beachwear attire.
Also, the finals were
originally to be held on the outskirts of Jakarta, but angry protestors
forced the event to relocate to the Hindu resort island of Bali. Members
of the group, Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) tried to travel to Bali by
sea from East Java, but were stopped by police.
Hary Tanoesoedibjo, the
CEO of MNC Group who organized the pageant locally, disputed the
government's decision to move the contest to Bali.
He said no laws have been
violated by the pageant and that "everything has been adjusted to the
local culture. We all know that, so no bikini."
Even before the
three-week contest began on September 8, protesters slammed it as
"pornography" and held signs reading: "Miss World is whore contest."
"Our demand is still the same," Yusanto said. "Don't continue this contest."
Miss World's 127
contestants competed in beach fashion, fitness, world fashion, talent
and "Beauty with a Purpose" meant to honor charitable work. The top 10
models -- from Ukraine, South Sudan, Brazil, Philippines, France,
Cameroon, Cyprus, England, Italy and the United States -- were announced
earlier this week.
A winner will be crowned in Bali on Saturday.
Security forces will have 700 police officers for the final event.
There has been criticism
of how the Indonesian government handled the Miss World controversy,
that it sent a message of capitulation in favor of a vocal minority.
Indonesia is a secular country with moderate Muslims, but "a small extremist fringe has become more vocal in recent years," according to the Jakarta Post.
"We are a complex
country, so we have to balance domestic concerns with our ability to
host international events," said Mari Elka Pangestu, the Tourism and
Creative Economy Minister of Indonesia. "But in general, Indonesia is
very open."
But not all such women's contests are so vehemently opposed.
A week ago, the World
Muslimah 2013 competition was held in Jakarta, to crown a woman who
applies "Islamic values in everyday life," which includes the ability to
recite from the Quran. Contestants dressed in head scarves and
floor-length dresses. Obabiyi Aishah Aijbola from Nigeria was named
World Muslimah 2013.
Eka Shanty, founder of
World Muslimah says the difference between Miss World and World Muslimah
is that the latter is not a pageant.
"This is an international award event to appreciate young and talented Muslim women."
In addition to decrying
the Miss World contest, the conservative Islamic group Hizbut Tahrir
does not support the World Muslimah competition.
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