Miss Iraq and Miss Israel; Death threats

Miss Iraq and her family have fled the country after being threatened and harassed. A selfie of Sarah Idan, Miss Iraq and Adar Gandelsman, Miss Israel, taken at this year’s Miss Universe contest, was recently posted on Gandelsman’s Instagram account with the comment, “Peace and love from Miss and Iraq and Miss Israel”.

However, Iraq and Israel are seen as enemy states and the photo has displeased many people. Idan was also criticized for modeling in a bikini for the Miss Universe contest. The times of Israel reported Dec. 14, Idan and her family have received death threats. Gandelsman, however, told the Times she has spoken Idan and neither of the models regret taking the photo. Idan spoke out on a November Instagram post, explaining in Arabic the selfie was, “only to express hope and desire for peace between the two countries.”