Lilith
07-26-2006, 07:38 AM
(gg)
JAKARTA (Reuters) - A militant Islamic group has filed
a police report against Indonesia's Miss Universe
candidate accusing her of indecency, a lawyer for the
organization said Tuesday.
Nadine Chandrawinata's participation in the contest
and display of her body in a swimsuit there "is
actually insulting for Indonesian dignity and women,"
Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) attorney Sugito told
Reuters.
Chandrawinata did not make it to the finals of the
Sunday competition in Los Angeles, which was won by
Miss Puerto Rico, but she had drawn heavy media
coverage in Indonesia, partly because of her mixed
Indonesian-German parentage and Eurasian looks.
Sugito said FPI had also filed complaints against four
people involved in sponsoring and organizing
Chandrawinata's participation.
"I am worried that Nadine is only victim of their
ambition," he said.
Under Indonesian law, police would have to investigate
whether there was sufficient evidence for a case under
the complaint, and if so, turn their findings over to
prosecutors for a decision on whether it merited going
to court.
The offences involved carry potential sentences
ranging from two to six years in jail, Sugito said,
adding that the posing requirements of the competition
offended the standards not just of Islam but other
religions.
A government decree against participation in beauty
contests issued when strongman Suharto was president
is still technically in effect in Indonesia, although
in practice it has been disregarded since he lost
power in 1998.
Some 85 percent of Indonesia's 220 million people
follow Islam, making it the world's most populous
Muslim country.
Although most Indonesian Muslims are considered
relatively moderate and the government is officially
secular, hard-line groups are becoming increasingly
vocal and visible.
The result has been a tug-of-war in Indonesian
politics over how much religious values should be
reflected in law.
FPI has filed complaints with the police on other
issues previously, while critics say it encourages
such vigilante tactics as attacking bars selling
alcohol during the Muslim fasting period.
An April protest organized by FPI against the
Indonesian edition of Playboy magazine was marked by
rock throwing and vandalism.
JAKARTA (Reuters) - A militant Islamic group has filed
a police report against Indonesia's Miss Universe
candidate accusing her of indecency, a lawyer for the
organization said Tuesday.
Nadine Chandrawinata's participation in the contest
and display of her body in a swimsuit there "is
actually insulting for Indonesian dignity and women,"
Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) attorney Sugito told
Reuters.
Chandrawinata did not make it to the finals of the
Sunday competition in Los Angeles, which was won by
Miss Puerto Rico, but she had drawn heavy media
coverage in Indonesia, partly because of her mixed
Indonesian-German parentage and Eurasian looks.
Sugito said FPI had also filed complaints against four
people involved in sponsoring and organizing
Chandrawinata's participation.
"I am worried that Nadine is only victim of their
ambition," he said.
Under Indonesian law, police would have to investigate
whether there was sufficient evidence for a case under
the complaint, and if so, turn their findings over to
prosecutors for a decision on whether it merited going
to court.
The offences involved carry potential sentences
ranging from two to six years in jail, Sugito said,
adding that the posing requirements of the competition
offended the standards not just of Islam but other
religions.
A government decree against participation in beauty
contests issued when strongman Suharto was president
is still technically in effect in Indonesia, although
in practice it has been disregarded since he lost
power in 1998.
Some 85 percent of Indonesia's 220 million people
follow Islam, making it the world's most populous
Muslim country.
Although most Indonesian Muslims are considered
relatively moderate and the government is officially
secular, hard-line groups are becoming increasingly
vocal and visible.
The result has been a tug-of-war in Indonesian
politics over how much religious values should be
reflected in law.
FPI has filed complaints with the police on other
issues previously, while critics say it encourages
such vigilante tactics as attacking bars selling
alcohol during the Muslim fasting period.
An April protest organized by FPI against the
Indonesian edition of Playboy magazine was marked by
rock throwing and vandalism.