Miss Indonesia Could Face Jail for her Bikini

As if it wasn't bad enough that she wasn't crowned Miss Universe, now a radical Muslim group is trying to send Miss Indonesia to the pokey for showing off what Allah gave her.

Nadine Chandrawinata might have looked like just another dazzling beauty to you on Sunday's pageant held at the Shrine, but some saw red when they tuned in and saw their Muslim sister in a bikini. Bikinis are taboo in Indonesian culture.

The Islamic Defenders Front filed a police report against Chandrawinata because of her clothing that is "actually insulting for Indonesian dignity and women," the organization's lawyer, Sugito, said today to Reuters.

On Friday a different lawyer for the group, Adnan Assegaf, proclaimed that they had ratted the young woman out to the cops. "We have reported Nadine Chandrawinata as she has harassed Indonesian women by appearing in vulgar poses at the Miss Universe 2006 contest on behalf of Indonesia," Assegaf said.

She also may have infringed on Indonesian Culture and Education Ministr`s Decree No.02/U/1984 which forbids the holding of beauty contests as they contradict religious and social values. Indonesia is the largest Muslim nation in the world.

The offences involved carry potential sentences ranging from two to six years in jail, Sugito said, adding that the posing requirements of the competition offended the standards not just of Islam but other religions.

A government decree against participation in beauty contests issued when strongman Suharto was president is still technically in effect in Indonesia, although in practice it has been disregarded since he lost power in 1998.