At least 50 dead in Miss World riot in Nigeria

Houston Chronicle ^ | AP

[Jalapeno]

Nov. 21, 2002, 3:21PM

At least 50 dead in Miss World riot in Nigeria

Associated Press

LAGOS, Nigeria -- Rioters stabbed pedestrians and torched churches during violent demonstrations today in the northern city of Kaduna. The Red Cross said more than 50 people died and 200 were wounded.

The protests were triggered by a newspaper article suggesting Islam's founding prophet might have chosen a wife from among contestants in the Miss World beauty pageant in Nigeria.

More than 50 people were stabbed, bludgeoned or burned to death and 200 were seriously injured in the violence in predominantly Muslim neighborhoods, Nigerian Red Cross President Emmanuel Ijewere told The Associated Press. At least four churches were destroyed, he said.

Many of the bodies were taken by Red Cross workers and other volunteers to local mortuaries. Many others remained inside homes that were set afire by the demonstrators, Ijewere said.

"A lot of people died. We don't know yet exactly how many ... more than 50," he said.

Shehu Sani of the Kaduna-based Civil Rights Congress said he watched a crowd stab one young man, then force a tire filled with gasoline around his neck and burn him alive. Sani said he saw three other bodies elsewhere in the city.

Alsa Hassan, founder of another human rights group, Alsa Care, said he saw a commuter being dragged out of his car and beaten to death by protesters.

Schools and shops hurriedly closed Thursday morning as hordes of young men, shouting "Allahu Akhbar," or "God is great," ignited makeshift street barricades made of tires and garbage, sending plumes of black smoke rising above the city. Others were heard chanting, "Down with beauty" and "Miss World is sin."

Hundreds of police and soldiers were deployed to restore calm. Riding in pickup trucks, they fired tear gas at protesters marching through otherwise abandoned streets waving tree branches and palm fronds.

State government officials declared a curfew of 6 p.m. to 6 a.m.

Previous riots in Kaduna, a largely Muslim city with a sizable Christian minority, have escalated into religious battles that killed hundreds since civilian government replaced military rule in 1999.

The latest demonstrations began Wednesday with the burning of an office of ThisDay newspaper in Kaduna after it published the article questioned the reasoning of Muslim groups that have condemned the Miss World pageant to be held Dec. 7 in the Nigerian capital, Abuja. Muslim groups say the pageant promotes sexual promiscuity and indecency.

[Ben Chad]

These people have some very series issues.

[DoughtyOne]

Neither you or I expect to hear one word about that until the day after we are no longer in the majority. Recall, Bush had a majority House and Senate for six months right after he was elected.

[DoughtyOne]

No offense, but read the article again. The incindiary event was central to my comments.

[SERE_DOC]

" What do you do with such people?"

Napalm is the first thing that comes to mind, maybe daisy cutter, just a thought

[JohnathanRGalt]

See the World Through the Eyes of Miss World 2001

AGBANI DAREGO

There are certain events in life which shapes and experience beyond immediate imagination. I believe that winning the Miss World Pageant is one of such events. The moment I was crowned Miss World I was ushered into a new experience of honour, respect, challenge and relationships of wide ranging dimensions.

For me in particular it was such a hallowing experience as I became the first Black African lady to be crowned Miss World. I was sincerely overwhelmed by the new status and expectations that accompany such a crown. I must say at once that I was determined to ensure that I lived up to those expectations and by the grace of God I look back a whole year with a sense of fulfilment and accomplishment.

... As my reign comes to an end I must express my profound gratitude and appreciation to everyone ... and to God whom I shall always remain grateful to for crowning my life with his love.
   

[Willie Green]

Yeah, I suppose you're right.
Just another one of those issues that true conservatives aren't allowed to talk about.

[VMI70]

Forward to W, Forward to W, Forward to W, ....

[Iron Eagle]

My understanding is that the country with the winning contestant from the prior year gets to be the host.

[1rudeboy]

The protests were triggered by a newspaper article suggesting Islam's founding prophet might have chosen a wife from among contestants in the Miss World beauty pageant in Nigeria.

This clearly is culturally insensitive. It should have read "might have chosen wives."

[swarthyguy]

>>nothing to do with religion, and a lot more to do with culture and biological factors, and poverty, probably

>>biological factors

LOL! Probably not washing their hands after they poop.

[don-o]

...Others were heard chanting, "Down with beauty" ....

Sounds like Orwell on acid.

That nails it. "Love is hate, freedom is slavery" etc....

What do you do with such people?

Wipe them out. All of them.

[sweetliberty]

Such a peaceful religion is Islam. I can't understand how something like this could have happened. Oh yeah, that's right. It is a crime punishable by death to speak ill of the pervert Mohammed.

[Minutes]

Muslim groups say the pageant promotes sexual promiscuity and indecency.

"What would (the prophet) Muhammad think? In all honesty, he would probably have chosen a wife from among them (the contestants)," Isioma Daniel wrote in Saturday's article.

This article doesn't play down the Muslims role :)

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20021121/ap_on_re_af/nigeria_miss_world_13

[WoofDog123]

Apparently some of them have gotten sophisticated enough to start researching the genealogical records of relatives of europeans who emigrated to nigeria, then calling with the 'your lost great-uncle, who (factually) came to live here, passed away so long ago and we have finally found you, the eligible descendant. He left an estate of over 2 million dollars, but in order to pay the court fees, we need you to advance 25k, and then...."

There are apparently people who fall for this.

[Rome2000]

These creatures are going to have to be force fed beer and wings and then sentenced to work the cash register at Hooters for a month before they are quaified to be called human beings.

There is something seriously wrong with a religion that makes its adherents into homicidal maniacs over the Miss World pageant.

I expect the practice of Islam should be outlawed, like cigarette smoking.

[zingzang]

There are apparently people who fall for this.

Like P.T. Barnum said, "There's a sucker born every minute!"

[mafree]

None of the contestants were young boys, either.

Nor were they goats.

[Arthur Wildfire! March]

Yeah. That's about it. No mention that the riots resulted from a threat made weeks ago by local Islamic extremists. No mention that Christian churches were burned down, or how many mosques were burned down. No mention of whether the rioters were Islamic or not. IMHO, while some blame is lightly touched upon, it is as subtle as possible. Then again, maybe I'm being hyper-critical. FReegards....

[Vince Ferrer]

All Islam and no peace makes Jack a dull boy. All Islam and no peace makes Jack a dull boy. All Islam and no peace makes Jack a dull boy. All Islam and no peace makes Jack a dull boy. All Islam and no peace makes Jack a dull boy. All Islam and no peace makes Jack a dull boy. All Islam and no peace makes Jack a dull boy. All Islam and no peace makes Jack a dull boy. All Islam and no peace makes Jack a dull boy. ....

[albee]

"Paging Mr. Farrahkan,...Mr. Louis Farrahkan. White courtesy telephone, please."