Indonesian Muslims rally against Miss World contest
Around 1,000 Indonesian Muslims protested against the Miss World beauty pageant slated to be held from September 8 in Bali and on September 28 at a venue near Jakarta.
Hardline Islamic group Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia on September 5 gathered to protest in Jakarta outside the building housing the local organiser of the contest. Many veiled women were among the protesters.
Chanting “Allahu akbar” (God is great), the protesters waved banners reading “Reject Miss World” and “Miss World go to Hell”. There were also protests in the Sumatran cities of Medan and Pekanbaru, and in Makassar, Sulawesi. Protesters gathered at council buildings, calling on the government to revoke the permit for the contest.
On September 4, hundreds of protesters took to the streets in Surabaya, Indonesia’s second largest city, and Bandung, the West Java capital.
Organiser MNC media group said it was not possible to cancel the contest or move the venue, and said the government had given assurances that it would provide security and protection for the event. MNC repeatedly ensured that nothing will happen at the pageant that is against the Indonesian culture, most of all there will be no bikini show.
Rejection of the event has come not only from hardline groups but also from the country’s most influential group of clerics, the Indonesia Ulema Council, whose fatwas are followed by many devoted Muslims. The Islamic Defenders Front, a hardline group with a long record of vandalising nightspots has pledged to disrupt the event if it is allowed to be held in Indonesia.
Around 1,000 Indonesian Muslims protested against the Miss World beauty pageant slated to be held from September 8 in Bali and on September 28 at a venue near Jakarta. Hardline Islamic group Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia on September 5 gathered to protest in Jakarta outside the building housing the local organiser of the contest. Many veiled women were among the protesters. Chanting "Allahu akbar" (God is great), the protesters waved banners reading "Reject Miss World" and "Miss World go to Hell". There were also protests in the Sumatran cities of Medan and Pekanbaru, and in Makassar, Sulawesi. Protesters gathered at council...
Around 1,000 Indonesian Muslims protested against the Miss World beauty pageant slated to be held from September 8 in Bali and on September 28 at a venue near Jakarta.
Hardline Islamic group Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia on September 5 gathered to protest in Jakarta outside the building housing the local organiser of the contest. Many veiled women were among the protesters.
Chanting “Allahu akbar” (God is great), the protesters waved banners reading “Reject Miss World” and “Miss World go to Hell”. There were also protests in the Sumatran cities of Medan and Pekanbaru, and in Makassar, Sulawesi. Protesters gathered at council buildings, calling on the government to revoke the permit for the contest.
On September 4, hundreds of protesters took to the streets in Surabaya, Indonesia’s second largest city, and Bandung, the West Java capital.
Organiser MNC media group said it was not possible to cancel the contest or move the venue, and said the government had given assurances that it would provide security and protection for the event. MNC repeatedly ensured that nothing will happen at the pageant that is against the Indonesian culture, most of all there will be no bikini show.
Rejection of the event has come not only from hardline groups but also from the country’s most influential group of clerics, the Indonesia Ulema Council, whose fatwas are followed by many devoted Muslims. The Islamic Defenders Front, a hardline group with a long record of vandalising nightspots has pledged to disrupt the event if it is allowed to be held in Indonesia.
