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American Morning
Pageant Furor
Aired November 25, 2002 - 08:36 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: There is a story out of Africa that started at the end of last week, and a lot of people have really strong notice of this, the riots in the streets. Right now, critics are calling for the cancellation of that troubled Miss World Pageant. The pageant moved to London after riots that killed more than 200, several Christian churches burned down. The contestants have landed back in London and plans are being made to hold the pageant there, and reports this morning from Robyn Kurnow.
Hello to you.
ROBYN CURNOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Bill.
Well, 84 displaced Miss World beauty queens touched down in London this weekend, fleeing Nigeria after religious riots in that country after their presence. It seems to be a case of all dressed up and nowhere to go. Despite the fact the organizers saying they are going ahead with the miss world pageant on December 7th, they contract to provide a live television finale for 150 countries around the world. But despite this, they say they don't have a venue and they don't have a local sponsor.
So it really is a situation of what is going to happen next. Many people in England, social commentators, suggesting that the contest needs to be canceled. One broadcaster saying that the girls have blood on their swimsuits. Another one saying that the contest has become a bit like a cargo of nuclear waste, shunned by all.
Essentially, real conflict and the irony, someone said was that feminists and Islamic fundamentalists, for once, sharing the same platform of their views towards women's rights.
HEMMER: Robyn, I want back up a little bit for the sake of our viewers, what did that editorial say that was published, relative (ph) Mohammed and how the connection was made to the beauty pageant and those contestants involved?
CURNOW: Essentially, we must remember the beauty pageant took place in Nigeria, because last year's winner was Miss Nigeria. So it was a great chance for Nigeria to showcase itself on the global arena. That is what they thought. The country is divided along Muslim and Christian lines, the Muslim north against the Christian south.
Obviously, as you know, the holy month of Ramadan, and a newspaper article suggested that the prophet Muhammad, if he was still alive, might want to marry one of the contestants. Obviously, with such sensitivities around religion, around (UNINTELLIGIBLE). and the fact there is going to be a landmark political presidential election next year, this created huge sensitivities and riots. Like you said, more than 200 dead in Nigeria, in response to what people many people say was a very insensitive newspaper article.
HEMMER: The story is not over yet. Robyn, thanks for the update there on the streets of London.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired November 25, 2002 - 08:36 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: There is a story out of Africa that started at the end of last week, and a lot of people have really strong notice of this, the riots in the streets. Right now, critics are calling for the cancellation of that troubled Miss World Pageant. The pageant moved to London after riots that killed more than 200, several Christian churches burned down. The contestants have landed back in London and plans are being made to hold the pageant there, and reports this morning from Robyn Kurnow.
Hello to you.
ROBYN CURNOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Bill.
Well, 84 displaced Miss World beauty queens touched down in London this weekend, fleeing Nigeria after religious riots in that country after their presence. It seems to be a case of all dressed up and nowhere to go. Despite the fact the organizers saying they are going ahead with the miss world pageant on December 7th, they contract to provide a live television finale for 150 countries around the world. But despite this, they say they don't have a venue and they don't have a local sponsor.
So it really is a situation of what is going to happen next. Many people in England, social commentators, suggesting that the contest needs to be canceled. One broadcaster saying that the girls have blood on their swimsuits. Another one saying that the contest has become a bit like a cargo of nuclear waste, shunned by all.
Essentially, real conflict and the irony, someone said was that feminists and Islamic fundamentalists, for once, sharing the same platform of their views towards women's rights.
HEMMER: Robyn, I want back up a little bit for the sake of our viewers, what did that editorial say that was published, relative (ph) Mohammed and how the connection was made to the beauty pageant and those contestants involved?
CURNOW: Essentially, we must remember the beauty pageant took place in Nigeria, because last year's winner was Miss Nigeria. So it was a great chance for Nigeria to showcase itself on the global arena. That is what they thought. The country is divided along Muslim and Christian lines, the Muslim north against the Christian south.
Obviously, as you know, the holy month of Ramadan, and a newspaper article suggested that the prophet Muhammad, if he was still alive, might want to marry one of the contestants. Obviously, with such sensitivities around religion, around (UNINTELLIGIBLE). and the fact there is going to be a landmark political presidential election next year, this created huge sensitivities and riots. Like you said, more than 200 dead in Nigeria, in response to what people many people say was a very insensitive newspaper article.
HEMMER: The story is not over yet. Robyn, thanks for the update there on the streets of London.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
