Muslim hardliners have continued to threaten to hijack the Miss World competition in Indonesia despite major concessions from the government and organizers leading up to Saturday's finale in Bali, The Associated Press reported.
The Islamic Defenders Front, synonymous for angry protests and violent raids on bars and prostitution buildings, began holding demonstrations a few weeks ago, as thousands displayed signs reading "Miss World is Whore Contest" and "Miss World Got to Hell.
Even groups seen as more morderate, including a known prominent Islamic group, joined the extremists in their call to have the internationally televised finale on Saturday banned.
Three weeks ago, the Indonesian government announced that the final would be moved from Jakarta to Bali. Organizers had to rearrange all of the logistics to the event, including rebooking hotel rooms and plane tickets.
Muslim extremists may still try to disrupt the event on Saturday, news reports said, as Western embassies have issued warning to citizens planning their trips. Large-scale protests are expected as fears of attacks may still be looming.
"The decision was changed so quickly just because of pressure from a certain group," Hary Tanoesoedibjo, head of Miss World sponsor MNC media group said. "We are worried this will create the perception that we are a weak nation," the billionaire added.
Miss World is the latest controversy in Indonesia, a Southeast Asian country of 240 million where most Muslims are not hard-liners. An extremist fringe have become more violent in the country, attacking Christians and other religious minorities, news reports said.
The Islamic Defenders Front, known as FPI, is a moral defender group that forbids such things as drinking, gambling, prostitution and pornography.
"There's a very real potential for violence at either event," said Damien Kingsbury, an Indonesia expert at Deakin University in Australia. "Having the Indonesians focusing on two events is going to divide their resources in ways which I think probably aren't going to be entirely helpful."
The hardliners had forces music sensation Lady Gaga to cancel a sold-out show last year after they branded her a "devil worshipper."
