Indonesian Muslims protest against Miss World in Jakarta, say event must not hold

Indonesia Miss World ProtestJAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — Indonesian Muslim hard-liners staged a protest Tuesday in the country’s capital to try to stop the holding of the Miss World pageant this weekend on the resort island of Bali.
More than 200 members of several Muslim hard-line groups organized by the Islamic Society Forum staged a rally and march on the MNC Tower, the building that houses the local organizer of the contest.
They held up banners with “Reject Miss World that exploits women” and “Go to hell Miss World” on them, and shouted “Allah akbar,” or God is great, outside the building, which was guarded by 300 police.


“This is an insult and humiliation of women,” Muhammad Al Khathath, an Islamic Society Forum leader, told the crowd. “Muslims should reject the Miss World contest,” he said.
The demonstration was peaceful and broke up after protest leaders met with the pageant organizers.