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Article: Indonesia's Miss Universe contestant caught in a firestorm.
- Article from:
- Chicago Tribune (Chicago, IL)
- Article date:
- May 6, 2005
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2005 Chicago Tribune. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Byline: Kim Barker
JAKARTA, Indonesia _ Miss Indonesia has glossy black hair and a law degree, smiles constantly and talks about helping children. In many ways, she is the ideal Miss Universe contestant.
But Artika Sari Devi faces one major obstacle in competing in the Miss Universe pageant May 30 _ wearing a swimsuit. To Islamic clerics and many others, an Indonesian Muslim woman showing bare skin would be a public slap against Islam and a national embarrassment.
"No way," exclaimed Monik, a 9-year-old girl who like many Indonesians uses only one name. "It's porno. You can't have that in Islam."
The debate may seem frivolous _ ...