Violence has darkened this year's Miss World Contest, turning it into a deadly affair. When a Lagos-based newspaper suggested that the Prophet Muhammad would have approved of the contest, riots began in Kaduna, then spread to the nation's capital, Abuja. An estimated 215 people have been killed and more than 500 injured since November 20 in related incidents. The contest and fate of those vying for the title of Miss World have been moved to London as Nigerians recover from the violence.
The psychological rationale behind this violent reaction boils down to tensions that have long existed in the area. Religious conflicts between the largely Muslim north and predominantly Christian south have erupted frequently in Kaduna. In this case, anxiety was already high before the contest, as Muslims claiming it goes against Sharia or Islamic law were already planning to condemn it. The pageant's sponsors had decided to push forward anyway, despite warnings of protest.
