Miss Malaysia World 2013 organizers were forced to drop four of its Muslim finalists after a fatwa prohibiting Muslim women from joining beauty pageants. The four contestants that were dropped are Kathrina Ridzuan, 23, Miera Sheikh, 19, Wafa Johanna De Korte, 19, and Sara Amelia Muhamad Bernard, 20.
The move drew protests from Wafa Johanna de Korte, who told sources that the decision to drop them was unnecessary as other Muslim countries like Indonesia allows Muslim women to participate in pageants.
“In the beginning, the other Muslim contestants and I were happy that we were picked as finalists because we could represent our country in this prestigious event.
“However, after the organizers disqualified us, what else can I say. I am so disappointed and saddened,” she said.
Organizer Datuk Anna Lim said the the decision was made by Federal Territories mufti Datuk Wan Zahidi Wan Teh who had opposed the four finalists’ participation.
Wan Zahidi said Muslim women could not participate in or organize any beauty pageants as it had been declared haram and a “sin”. The new law is gazetted under the Federal Territories Islamic Administration Act in February 1996.
Datuk Anna Lim added that “the competition will go on as usual”. “We are very excited about presenting the best beauty pageant for our non-Muslim finalists”, she said.
In recent years, the National Fatwa Council has issues rules that forbid Muslims from using botox, banned women from exhibiting tomboy behavior, and even proposed to ban yoga. [Source]
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