WILL SHE MISS IRAQ? – About a month ago, outrage erupted across the Middle East – no, it was not because Donald Trump recognised Jerusalem as a capital of Israel, but because Miss Iraq recognised Miss Israel:
Miss Iraq Sarah Idan has had to defend herself for posting a selfie with Miss Israel Adar Gandeslman. “I want to stress that the purpose of the picture was only to express hope and desire for peace between the two countries,” Idan said in a statement, “[It] does not signal support for the government of Israel and does not mean I agree or accept its policies in the Arab homeland.”
Death threats have now forced Miss Idan and her family to leave Iraq.
Despite the backlash, Ms Gandelsman said her friend did not regret her decision to post the image to social media, which she has yet to remove from Instagram, reported the paper.
“She did it to so that people can understand that it’s possible to live together,” she said.
This, by the way, is the offending Instagram post:
“Peace” in the Middle East remains ever elusive when an Arab has to escape in fear of her life for taking a photo with an Israeli. Miss Idan pretty much falls within the definition of a refugee, perhaps a new subcategory – a beauty refugee. We need to accept more of these from the region.
