Miss Iraq Contestants Drop Out After Death Threats
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More than a dozen contestants in the first Miss Iraq pageant since 1972 have quit because of death threats from religious extremists.
At least 15 of the 150 pageant applicants have backed out of the contest — organized as a way to show the world that Iraq is a “civilized county” — after religious extremists condemned the show. The critics believe the competition is un-Islamic and immoral, NBC News reported.
However the organizers and most of the contestants remain determined to press ahead. They see the glitzy show was crucial step towards normality in a society torn apart by ISIS violence and still divided 12 years after the overthrow of Saddam Hussein.
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Iraq hasn’t sent a contestant to Miss World since 1972 because its pageants have not met international standards.
The 2015 pageant won’t be a direct copy of its Western counterparts — for example, the swimsuit round will be replaced with a segment featuring more conservative outfits — but still sticks to the requirements that would make the winner eligible to compete in Miss Arab and potentially Miss World. Following those regulations, Miss Iraq hopefuls will not war headscarves.
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