Islamic group calls for beauty pageant to be nixed
Print Edition
One of Indonesia’s most influential Islamic groups is urging the government to cancel the Miss World pageant scheduled for next month, saying the exposure of skin by women in a competition violates Muslim teachings, an official said yesterday.
A top-level meeting of clerics was held earlier this month by the Indonesian Ulema Council to respond to protests from some groups over Indonesia’s hosting of the event, even after organizers agreed to cut the bikini competition and instead outfit contestants in more conservative sarongs, council chairman Amidan Shaberah said.
“Our position is clear, we reject Indonesia being the host of Miss World,” Shaberah said. “Because exposing their bodies in a contest is against Islamic teachings.”
The council is an influential Islamic body that often issues fatwas, or edicts, including controversial rulings against smoking and yoga. Though not legally binding, many devoted Muslims follow such decrees because ignoring them is considered a sin.
Shaberah said the council will not officially demand the government cancel the event, but will instead recommend it be stopped. The pageant is scheduled to be held partly on the resort island of Bali, with the final round on September 28 near the capital, Jakarta.
“We are not Sharia police, we are not law enforcers,” Shaberah said, referring to authorities who enforce Islamic law. “But we suggest the government cancel it.”
Adjie S. Soeratmadjie of RCTI, the event’s official broadcaster and organizer, said the concerns were being heard and that some adjustments were being made to make the pageant more appropriate for Indonesian culture and more like other beauty contests held in the country.
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