Muslim hard-liners in Indonesia continued their protests against the Miss World pageant that is scheduled to take place this weekend on the resort island of Bali.
About 1,000 members of the Islamic group Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia rallied outside the building housing the local organizer of the contest on Thursday.
While chanting “Allah Akbar,” or God is great, the protesters, mostly women, waved banners reading “Miss World = Culture Liberalization Campaign” and “Reject Miss World.”
Protests also were held in the Sumatran cities of Medan and Pekanbaru, as well as Makassar in Sulawesi. Protesters gathered at local council buildings, calling on the government to revoke the permit for the contest.
The local organizer, MNC media group, said it was not possible to cancel the contest or move the venue, and that the government had assured it that it would provide security and protection for the event.
“I think there is a misunderstanding,” Hary Tanoesoedibjo, head of MNC, told a news conference Wednesday in Bali. “I assure that there will be nothing that runs against our culture. I would not accept if there was a bikini show.”
The competition will be held partly on Bali, with the final round set for Sept. 28 on the outskirts of Jakarta.
Sources
Image: AP/Edmonton Journal