Published on Dec 24, 2015
BAGHDAD — ISIS terrorists have warned a beauty queen crowned the first Miss Iraq in more than 40 years that she will be kidnapped if she does not join them.
Shaima Qassem Abdulrahman, a 20-year-old economics student from the northern city of Kirkuk, became the first Miss Iraq since 1972 when she won the competition on Saturday.
But her joy was short-lived after she received a telephone call from ISIS on Tuesday, threatening her with abduction, the Jerusalem Post reported, citing Kuwaiti daily al-Watan.
Qassem admitted she was distressed by the call but has vowed to represent Iraq at the Miss Universe contest in 2016, according to the Jerusalem Post.
Organisers of the Miss Iraq beauty pageant toned down some aspects of the competition to reflect conservative attitudes in the country, the Jerusalem Post said.
Around a third of Iraq is controlled by ISIS, which advocates harsh punishment, including the death penalty, for women who are not fully covered.
