About 1000 Muslim hardliners in Indonesia are protesting against the Miss World pageant as organizers say the event will go on as scheduled this weekend in Bali.
In Jakarta, members of the hardline Islamic group Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia gathered outside the building housing the local organizer of the pageant, chanting “Allah akbar” [God is great]. Surprisingly, most of the protesters were women.
They waved banners reading “Miss World Culture Liberalisation Campaign” and “Reject Miss World”. The demonstrators also warned the government against issuing a permit to the pageant show, arguing that it would have a negative impact on the public, especially the youths.
Muslimah, coordinator of HTI in North Sumatra, said the contest violates women’s rights as it exhibits parts of the female body. As part of the Muslim community which highly respects women, HTI stood firm against the pageant beauty contest which violated religious norms and harassed women`s dignity, she said.
“Women are respected creature and are not an object of exploitation,” she said. [Source]
In June, the Indonesia government banned the use of bikinis in the Miss World finale. Adjie S. Soeratmadjie of RCTI (official broadcaster and local organizer), said all of the more 130 contestants will be replacing their bikinis that are historically part of the competition with Bali’s traditional long sarongs.
Julia Morley, the chairperson of the Miss World Organisation earlier assured the public that there will be no bikini fashion at the Miss World 2013 Finals in Bali, Indonesia.
The Miss World 2013 finale is slated to take place September 28 on the resort island of Bali and in Jakarta.
[Source]
