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

AP/Edmonton Journal

AFP/Straits Times

Image: AP/Edmonton Journal

Suryadharma Ali said that the organisers should follow the advice of the nation's top Islamic clerical body, which last week called for the contest to be scrapped even after organisers agreed to axe the bikini round.

"The Indonesian Ulema Council has expressed strong opposition to Miss World because it doesn't fit with Islamic teachings that say Muslim women should cover immodest parts of their bodies," the minister said in a statement late Thursday.

Source

• The National

Ivian Lunasol Sarcos Colmenares who was orphaned at a young age said she spent five years in a convent, and now she said she wants to use her title to help other people.

She said: "Winning means everything to me and I hope to take advantage of being a winner in a productive manner. I'm unbelievably happy to have won and there are some incredible girls. I first and foremost want to help people in need."

"I would like to help people like me. I am an orphan. I would also like to help the elderly and troubled teenagers. As many people as I can."

"Unfortunately I lost both my parents at a very young age which led me to study for five years in a nunnery. I spent my five years in there and my dream was to become a nun," Colmenares said.

Colmenares, 21, has a degree in human resources and currently works for a broadcasting company.

Miss Venezuela, Colmenares, beat contestants from 122 countries to the title after impressing the judges in the categories of beach beauty, top model, talent, sports, and beauty with a purpose - where the contestants must demonstrate involvement in a charity project.

Source

• Daily Mail