Controversy over beauty contest "Miss World" escalates – Religious intolerance increases

The Society for Threatened Peoples (STP) warns about an increase of religious intolerance in Indonesia. "The controversy over the "Miss World 2013" beauty contest – which will take place in Bali starting from Sunday – clearly shows the growing influence of radical Islamists in the south-east Asian island nation," said the STP's Asia-consultant, Ulrich Delius, in Göttingen on Friday." The majority of the moderate Muslims is growing silent, while the Sunni extremists are using the "Miss World" contest for their agitation, demanding a cancellation of the event." The radical Islamists are increasingly controlling everyday life in the country, although the Indonesian constitution guarantees freedom of religion. The victims are Christians, Shiites, Ahmadiyyah, liberal Muslims and women whose rights are being systematically restricted. While the Islamists barely had any political influence a while ago, even the controversial Minister of Religion, Suryadharma Ali, is now taking up their claims.

This week, the radical Islamists had underlined their criticism of the beauty contest with public protests in many cities. Next Sunday, the about 120 participants will take part in several competitions to become the new beauty queen. The organizers emphasized that the women will not be posing in revealing bikinis, but in Indonesian sarongs that reach the floor. The competition will close on September 28, 2013, in Bogor, near the capital of Jakarta. "We hope there will be no attacks by radical Islamists," said Delius. Last year, a concert by Lady Gaga in Indonesia had been cancelled following threats to set fire to the concert hall.

The dispute over the "Miss World" contest is a new highlight regarding the efforts of religious bigots towards an Islamization of social life. During the past few weeks, cases of harassment against women by members of the religious police had increased significantly – especially in the province of Aceh, where the traditional Sharia law was introduced lately. The moral guardians send home women who aren't wearing a headscarf in public – and in some districts of Aceh, women are not allowed to wear jeans or tight trousers. If a woman leaves her home at night, she risks being arrested for prostitution. In some regions, there are plans to ban women from visiting dance events- Also, women are now supposed to ride motorcycles only sitting aside, for moral reasons. In August 2013, a school in Sumatra even tried to introduce compulsory virginity tests for high school girls.

"Indonesia is not a country of religious tolerance any more," said Delius. Christians, Shiites and Ahmadiyyah are complaining about arbitrary closures of churches and mosques as well as the severe restrictions of their religious freedom.