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Miss World competition leads to deadly riots in Nigeria

In 2002, the Miss World contest was supposed to bring a positive image to Nigeria, instead it brought rioting - and eventually death to northern Nigeria – a predominantly Muslim area.

In 2002, the Miss World beauty pageant was supposed to bring a positive image to Nigeria, instead it brought demonstrations – and eventually rioting and death to northern Nigeria – a predominantly Muslim area.

When the initial protests took off, a young journalist Isioma Daniel wrote an article suggesting that if the prophet Mohammed was in Nigeria, he would probably want to choose one of the contestants for his wife. She never imagined the article would provoke such violence.

The Miss World contest was abandoned and a fatwa was issued against Isioma. She talks to Witness about the riots and killings, and her continuing exile from her home country.

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10 minutes

Last on

Fri 6 Nov 2009 08:50GMT

Broadcasts

  • Fri 6 Nov 2009 00:50GMT
  • Fri 6 Nov 2009 08:50GMT

Podcast