Beauty pageant canceled due to ‘holy week’ in eastern province

DİYARBAKIR

Eighteen girls from 17 countries were to compete in the contest in Diyarbakır, which was promoted as a contribution to the ongoing peace process. AA photo

A beauty pageant scheduled for this weekend in the southeastern province of Diyarbakır has been canceled following protests, organizers announced today.

The “Miss Civilization Of The World” contest was promoted as a contribution to the ongoing peace process, but was called off because it coincided with the “Holy Birth Week,” which marks the birth of the Prophet Muhammad, organizers said.

Eighteen girls from 17 countries were to compete in the contest.

“We have received protests of some conservative groups since we came to Diyarbakır,” one of the organizers told Doğan news agency on condition of anonymity. “People demanded the cancelation of the contest due to the ‘Holy Birth Week.’ Of course we respect that, and we called off the event; the contestants will return to their countries.”

The contestants had been touring the city since the beginning of the week. Another debate surfaced when the contestant representing Turkey in the event was presented as “Miss Turkish Republic.” She was later named “Miss Turkey,” while another girl represented the southeastern province as “Miss Diyarbakır.”

Süha Özgermi, the chairman of the event, told Anatolia news agency that the contest was canceled “for some reasons,” without further elaborating.

“We are going back, but we could not get enough of Diyarbakır,” said Özgermi, who has organized hundreds of beauty pageants and is the most famous figure in Turkey regarding such events. “We were politely told that there were no available halls. There is no resentment, but I cannot stop my tears.”

Özgermi said he would be happy to return to Diyarbakır if invited in the future.