April 18, 2006 - 15:33 AMT
Armenians, who Won Miss Iraq Contest, Forced to Refuse Their Crown
As a result of threats by Muslim radical groupings, winner of the first Miss Iraq contests, ethnic Armenian Tamara Goregian had to refuse its title. Silva Sahakyan, who was the second, also has to hide from radicals. The winner of Miss Iraq contest, held under secret conditions, returned the crown of the winner to the organizational committee in four days, as Muslim radical groupings of Iraq threatened her. "You are the queen of unfaithful, not that of beauty," they stated. As a result Tamara Goregian had to hide in Jordan and the title was offered to two Muslim girls, who were the second and third, but they refused, too. After that the crown was handed to Silva Sahakyan, who was the fourth and radicals started threatening her, too. Silva Sahakyan is hiding at the moment, however she does not refuse the crown of the winner, reports RFE/RL.