Muslim leaders have called on a British Iraqi woman to withdraw from the Miss England beauty contest.
| I've got a better idea: how about if you don't look? |
 Sarah Mendly, 23, the Miss Nottingham winner, is one of the favourites to take the national title in Liverpool. But her place in this weekend's event has been condemned by the city's Islamic institute, which has branded the showing of naked flesh unlawful.
| "Oh! Nekkid flesh! Oh, hold me, Mahmoud!" |
Miss Mendly said she will wear a sarong and a one-piece swimsuit instead of the traditional bikini. The pharmaceutical sales rep has lived in England since her parents fled Saddam Hussein's regime in Iraq in 1993. She said: "I wanted to show that there are attractive British Iraqi girls who are proud of being both British and Iraqi. Some fanatics might say entering a beauty contest is wrong because you are putting yourself up to be judged by your physical appearance - but my family supports me."
| Good for you and your family. |
But Dr Hashim Sulaiman, of the Liverpool Islamic Institute, said: "There is no way a Muslim girl should be playing any part in this in this competition because it is unlawful.
| In fact, I've got an even better idea: why don't you go have sex with yourself? |
"The ladies in that contest are always very scantily-dressed and the only part of the body that should be on display are the face the hands and the feet. I would like this girl to withdraw from the contest immediately."
| The rest of us would like you to drop dead, either immediately or after a protracted and painful illness, it doesn't matter. |
Miss Mendly, from Beeston, is currently leading a text ballot of 40 women all hoping to make the final 11 contestants who will take place in the grand final. If she scoops the Miss England title she will travel to China for the Miss World contest in December. |