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[NEW UPDATE] Miss Philippines Crowned Miss World 2013 Amid Protests

Miss Philippines was crowned Miss World 2013 in a glittering finale Saturday on the Indonesian resort island of Bali, amid tight security following weeks of hardliner Muslim protests.

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Megan Young of the Philippines is the new Miss World. She became the first Filipino woman to win in the 63-year-old pageant

Miss Philippines, Megan Young is crowned Miss World by Miss World 2012 Wenxia Yu of China during Miss World 2013 on September 28, 2013 in Nusa Dua, Indonesia.

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Miss Philippines, Megan Young reacts as she is crowned Miss World 2013 during the Miss World 2013 final on September 28, 2013 in Nusa Dua, Indonesia.

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Miss World 2013, Megan Young (C) from the Philippines, sings with runner-up Miss France, Marine Lorphelin (L) and second runner-up Miss Ghana, Carranzar Naa Okailey Shooter (R) after Young was crowned Miss World 2013 during the Miss World 2013 final on September 28, 2013 in Nusa Dua, Indonesia.

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Miss Philippines, Megan Young waves as she is crowned Miss World during Miss World 2013 on September 28, 2013 in Nusa Dua, Indonesia.

Image via zimbio.com

Miss Philippines was crowned Miss World 2013 on Saturday at a tightly guarded ceremony in Bali, Indonesia, after the contest was plagued by protests from Muslim hardliners and fears that extremist groups could try to disrupt the event.

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Young bested 128 beauty queens from around the world to win the coveted title in a contest broadcast to more than 180 countries worldwide.

inquirer.net

Miss France, Marine Lorphelin, 20, took second place, while Miss Ghana, Carranzar Naa Okailey Shooter, 22, came in third.

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Young, who took the crown from Wenxia Yu of China, the 2012 winner, was born in the United States. When she was 10 she moved to the Philippines, where she has appeared in films and television.

inquirer.net

After getting crowned, Young thanked the judges for choosing her and promised to “be the best Miss World ever.” The 23-year-old Filipino actress pledged to “just be myself in everything I do, to share what I know and to educate people.”

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Before her, no Filipina had won the prestigious crown in the 63-year-old London-based pageant.
Gwendoline Ruais was first runner-up in 2011. Evangeline Pascual was also first runner-up in 1973 while actress Ruffa Gutierrez was second-runner up in 1993.

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Miss World beauty pageant officially opens in Indonesia amid protests by Muslim hard-liners

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Miss World contestants perform during the Miss World 2013 Indonesia opening show on September 8, 2013 in Nusa Dua, Indonesia.

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Miss World began amid tight security on the Indonesian resort island of Bali on Sunday after days of Muslim hardline protests that forced the venue for the beauty pageant to be moved.

thehindu.com

As contestants put on dance performances at a glittering opening ceremony, around 100 police, including some armed with rifles, patrolled around the building where the contest is being held on the south of the island.

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Hundreds of policemen have been deployed at hotels and venues linked to the pageant, which has caused anger in the world's largest Muslim-majority nation.

bangkokpost.com

Nana Putra, an official from MNC media group, the local organiser which is also broadcasting Miss World, said organisers hoped the event would "lift Indonesia's image to the world".

inquirer.net

Miss World pageant to go on in Bali despite 'haram' condemnation from Muslim groups

Miss World 2012 Wenxia Yu, with Sancler Frantz & Mariana Notarangelo

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Miss World pageant to go on in Bali despite 'haram' condemnation from Muslim groups

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Miss Malaysia World 2013 - Melinder Bhullar.

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Governor Made Mangku Pastika insisted that he would fully support the Miss World pageant in Bali next month, saying that there was no reason to reject it.
“The participants and organizers of the Miss World pageant have agreed to abide by our requirements related to the bikini banning."

thejakartapost.com

Julia Morley, chairwoman of Miss World Organization, said, as quoted by world media, including AP, Reuters and Fox News, that Indonesia was not the only country that had such a culture.

“We like to work in a manner respectful to every country."

thejakartapost.com

We call on Muslims “to fiercely oppose the staging of this pageant in Indonesia and the importing of all liberal culture into our lands, including the objectification of women and lewd entertainment culture that spreads immorality,” Hisbut Tahrir Indonesia, HTI said on its website on Saturday.

aleteia.org

“Our position is clear, we reject Indonesia being the host of Miss World,” Mr Shaberah said. “Because exposing their bodies in a contest is against Islamic teachings.”

independent.co.uk

All of the more than 130 contestants will be required to wear Bali’s traditional long sarongs instead of the sexy bikinis that are historically part of the competition.
Muslim clerics have said that the contest was “haram” and “not part of Indonesia’s customs”.

freemalaysiatoday.com

Sara Amelia and Wafe De Korte say JAWI warned them against attending the Miss Malaysia finals

Insiders revealed Sara Amelia Bernard was cautioned by the Federal Territory Islamic Religious Department (Jawi) that she would be “arrested on sight” if she attended the event.

themalaymailonline.com

“I don’t want to talk much about it except that they (Jawi) told me not to go for the event,” she said.

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Wafa Johanna said she was also “advised” not to go for the finals.
“We got the same warnings from the religious institute as it is not right for us to be there even though we’re there to show support,” she said.

malaysiandigest.com

Official pageant licensee and Miss Malaysia World organiser Datuk Anna Lim was informed by the girls they would not be attending the finals as to not “create any further problems”.

themalaymailonline.com

Jawi director Datuk Che Mat Che Ali was quoted by Bernama on Saturday as saying the religious authority had mounted enforcement operations around the venue of the finals.

malaysiandigest.com

Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom says this is not about the rule of no bikinis

The Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department who is in charge of religious affairs said the Federal Territories Islamic Affairs Department (Jawi) had already clarified the Muslim edict (fatwa) was not about the dress code for participants.

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Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom says this is not about the rule of no bikinis.

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"This is not about the rule of no bikinis. The fatwa clearly states that Muslim women cannot join beauty pageants,” Jamil Khir told reporters in Kuala Lumpur today.

themalaysianinsider.com

"The Fatwa Council is not stating the types of clothing; it states very clearly that Muslim women in the country cannot participate in beauty pageants. Therefore, whatever the attire may be, as long as they are Muslims, they are not allowed to participate (in beauty pageants)".

malaysiandigest.com

He also cautioned Muslims who have deferring views about the fatwa as there are penalties if the fatwa was insulted. "If there are people who object to the fatwa, it is very easy for us to fine them RM3,000," he said.

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"There is no fatwa for it yet; there are specifications for attires," he said yesterday when asked about Muslim women who model. Brushing aside the question on whether Muslim women were allowed to engage in modelling, he said the fatwa is only restricted to beauty pageants.

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Three of the girls say they did not mean to insult Muslims

Contestant Sara Amelia Muhammad Bernard, 20, said she had issued a formal apology to the Federal Territory Islamic Affairs Department (Jawi).

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Finalist Miera Sheikh, 19, declined to comment about the Jawi probe. However, she expressed her respect for Malay culture and said that she strongly embraces her Islamic roots.

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Finalist Wafa Johanna De Korte, 19, also issued an apology. “I’m not at all against the fatwa ruling. I respect that the fatwa is there to protect the Muslims of Malaysia.

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Contestant Sara Amelia Muhammad Bernard, 20, said she had issued a formal apology to the Federal Territory Islamic Affairs Department (Jawi). “My intentions were not to offend Muslims or my own religion,” she said yesterday.

thestar.com.my

Finalist Wafa Johanna De Korte: “I’m not at all against the fatwa ruling. I respect that the fatwa is there to protect the Muslims of Malaysia. If anyone is insulted, I’m deeply sorry, but it was never my intention to insult anyone"

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Finalist Miera Sheikh, 19: “I may not be a perfect Muslim but I was brought up in an Islamic and Malay culture despite my open-mindedness on certain things in life,”

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“To me, Islam will never fade in my life until my last breath because my roots from my ancestors till my parents’ generation and mine will still be Islam.”

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JAWI director says the girls' statement on being disappointed with the fatwa is an insult to Islam

JAWI investigates the four disqualified beauty contestants for insulting Islam.

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The four Muslim contestants dropped from Miss Malaysia World 2013 are now the subject of a Federal Territory Islamic Affairs Department (JAWI) probe for allegedly insulting Islam.

themalaymailonline.com

Its director, Datuk Che Mat Che Ali, said the investigation would be carried out based on Section 7 of the Syariah Criminal Offences (Federal Territories) Act 1997.

malaysia-today.net

“Based on the report, the participants had expressed their disappointment with the fatwa that was gazetted on Feb 8, 1996, under the Administration of Islamic Law (Federal Territories) 1993,” he said in a statement yesterday.

thestar.com.my

“Thus, the statement (about being disappointed with the fatwa) is deemed to have insulted Islam,” Che Mat explained. If convicted, the four could each face a fine of up to RM3,000, imprisonment for up to two years, or both.

malaysia-today.net

“As a religious enforcement agency, JAWI will conduct further investigation if there is sufficient evidence and testimony. The prosecution will be carried out against those involved in the Syariah Court”

themalaymailonline.com

Nazri Aziz says Muslims must follow the fatwa

Tourism and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz said that Muslims must adhere to the fatwa which restricts Muslim women from participating in the Miss Malaysia World 2013 pageant.
"We Muslims must adhere to the fatwa."

fz.com

"Kerana ini sudah tentu dibuat kajian dan ia merugikan. Jadi Majlis Fatwa berhak untuk keluarkan fatwa. "Kalau tak ada disiplin, maka kita akan berkecamuk dan huru-haralah pentadbiran hukum Islam di negara kita,"

themalaysianinsider.com

Asked whether it was a double standard as Muslim women participate in swimming competitions in the Olympics Games, Nazri said that the swimming competition was a contest of the swimming ability of participants whereas a beauty pageant is a competition that focuses on the participants’ bodies.

fz.com

"Olimpik itu kita pertandingkan dan tonjolkan kebolehan kita dan bukan mempamerkan badan kita. Itu perkara berbeza.

"Tapi pertandingan ini, you tunjukkan badan, tak ada keluarkan tenaga," katanya merujuk pertandingan ratu cantik.

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Listen to what Wafa Johanna De Korte, one of the banned finalists, has to say

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Pengerang MP Datuk Seri Azalina Othman says the organizers should have been aware of the ruling

Pengerang MP Datuk Seri Azalina Othman questioned as to why the Miss Malaysia organisers were unaware of the Fatwa.

thestar.com.my

“The girls shouldn’t have joined in the first place. The ruling has been known for the past few years,” said Azalina.

thestar.com.my

“They should also have been more sensitive. It is a sensitive environment right now especially during the fasting month,” she said.

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Former Miss Malaysia Universe of 1978 Yasmin Yusoff says the pageant world had accepted the ruling

Former Miss Malaysia Universe of 1978 Yasmin Yusoff says the pageant world had accepted the ruling.

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Former Miss Malaysia Universe of 1978 Yasmin Yusoff also expressed her surprise because the beauty pageant world had pretty much accepted the fact that Malay girls could not enter the contest.

thestar.com.my

“In a way it is sad because we have so many beautiful Malay girls out there. But now let’s focus on the girl who is going to win,” she said.

thestar.com.my

Sisters in Islam (SIS) says they are concerned over the reach of the 1996 fatwa

Sisters in Islam (SIS) expressed concern over the reach of 1996 ruling to control public conduct of Muslims in terms of dress and indecency, especially when the organisers had given an assurance that the contestants will be wearing long pants instead of swimming suits.

thestar.com.my

Miss Malaysia forced to drop four of its finalists because they are Muslims

Miss Malaysia forced to drop four of its finalists because they are Muslims.

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The organisers of Miss Malaysia World 2013 were forced to drop four of its Muslim finalists following a fatwa prohibiting Muslim women from joining beauty pageants.

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The four dropped are Kathrina Ridzuan, 23, Miera Sheikh, 19, Wafa Johanna De Korte, 19, and Sara Amelia Muhamad Bernard, 20.

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She said there were now 15 finalists and the finals will be on August 2 in Kuala Lumpur. “But the four girls are very disappointed.”

kualalumpurpost.net

The four disqualified beauties are outraged and feel discriminated

The four disqualified contestants are outraged and feel discriminated.

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The four Miss Malaysia World 2013 beauty contest finalists, who were dropped following criticism by a mufti that their participation is “sinful”, are outraged that local Muslim women are facing discrimination based on religion.

malaysiandigest.com

They said the decision was uncalled for as other Muslim nations such as Indonesia — where the Miss World pageant will be held in September — do not forbid Muslim women from participating in beauty contests.

themalaymailonline.com

They are furious their chance to live out their dream has been crushed.

kualalumpurpost.net

Organiser Datuk Anna Lim says Federal Territories Mufti was against their participation

Organiser Datuk Anna Lim says Federal Territories Mufti was against their participation.

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Organiser Datuk Anna Lim said the decision was made following a statement by Federal Territories mufti Datuk Wan Zahidi Wan Teh who had opposed the four finalists’ participation.

thestar.com.my

Lim said she informed the press that the four were dropped after Federal Territories Mufti had raised the issue of the fatwa. “As Malaysia is a multi-racial country, we have to show respect to the Muslim community."

themalaymailonline.com

“The competition will go on as usual and we are very excited about presenting the best beauty pageant for our non-Muslim finalists,” she told Mingguan Malaysia.

thestar.com.my

Federal Territories Mufti Datuk Wan Zahidi Wan Teh says it is a sin for Muslim women to participate in pageants

Federal Territories mufti Datuk Wan Zahidi Wan Teh says it is a sin for Muslim women to participate in pageants

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Wan Zahidi had said Muslim women could not participate in or organise any beauty pageants as it had been declared haram and a sin.

thestar.com.my

According to Wan Zahidi, the fatwa prohibiting Muslim women from joining beauty pageants was issued and gazetted under the Federal Territories Islamic Administration Act in February 1996.

themalaymailonline.com

The four Muslims girls were initially allowed to join because of changes in clothing and their mixed-parentage backgrounds

All four young Muslim women were initially admitted — despite a 1996 fatwa against Muslim participation in beauty pageants — following changes in clothing and the women’s racial backgrounds.

malaysiandigest.com

The four Muslims girls were initially allowed to join because of changes in clothing and their mixed-parentage backgrounds.

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The first reason was that the Miss World pageant will be held in Indonesia and Muslim contestants would not have to wear swimming costumes on stage."

themalaymailonline.com

“The Muslim contestants were also supposed to wear long pants on the final night. The girls are also very beautiful and are of mixed parentage. One is German-mixed, two are English-mixed and one is Arab-mixed,” she said.

kualalumpurpost.net

Wafa Johanna de Korte,29, says Malay women should have the chance to take part in such high-profile contests

19-year-old Wafa Johanna de Korte says the pageant is not about sexiness nor attractiveness

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“I thought finally Muslims were being allowed to join the quest and represent Malaysia.I thought it’ll be okay because the finals will be held in Muslim-majority Indonesia. I would not be wearing swimsuits or bikinis that would expose my skin but instead would be wearing sports attire.”

malaysiandigest.com

Wafa Johanna said it was disappointing that after 17 years the perspective about Muslim women “is still out there”. “This pageant is not about how sexy or how attractive you are, but it’s about how poised a woman is to represent a country."

malaysia-today.net

“I hope things will start changing and that views about Muslim participation in this pageant will change. Malay women must have the opportunity to take part in such high-profile contests and not be discriminated against based on religion.”

malaysia-today.net

Sara Amelia, 20, says why not ban Muslim women from representing Malaysia in gymnastics or swimming?

Sara Amelia, 20, says why not ban Muslim women from representing Malaysia in gymnastics or swimming?

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Sara Amelia, 20, says why not ban Muslim women from representing Malaysia in gymnastics or swimming?

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“We were told we were allowed to enter the contest as we would not be revealing any parts of our body, but our personalities.

themalaymailonline.com

“I’m of mixed-parentage and I can’t help that I’m born a Muslim. I don’t have any prejudice against my religion, but to be disqualified from a pageant for that reason is just ridiculous."

malaysiandigest.com

“If they are going to ban us from this, why don’t they ban Muslim women who represent the country in gymnastics and swimming?” she asked.

malaysiandigest.com

Kathrina binti Ridzuan, 23, says she wanted to gain experience, confidence, and adventure

Kate Davies @ Kathrina Ridzuan / 23 Years Old / 5'5 / Malay-British ‪#‎MissMalaysiaWorld2013‬ applicant

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“I joined Miss Malaysia World 2013 because I want to gain experience, confidence, and adventure. I also want to encourage all women in the world and to let them know that the pageant is not just about the looks but also the intelligence. "

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For me, beauty is a combination of physical ability, virtue and the friendliness one shows to another.

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Miera Sheikh says she joined the pageant for an opportunity to make the world a better place

Miera Sheikh says joining the pageant gave her an opportunity to make the world a better place.

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"This pageant also gives me the opportunity to play my part in making the world a better place."

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“Joining Miss Malaysia World 2013 is a chance as well as an opportunity to represent the pageant in various charitable ways."

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On Friday, the National Fatwa Committee declared shisha smoking and selling 'haram' for all Muslims

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