The violence spoiled a much-needed star turn for Nigeria. Yet few Nigerians thought the pageant, or the offending column, was anything more than a spark that ignited an already volatile situation in their fractious country, which is divided almost equally between Muslims and non-Muslims. Ever since a Christian southerner, Olusegun Obasanjo, became president after elections in 1999, Muslims have been seething (and sometimes rioting). A dozen northern states have imposed Muslim Sharia since then, in defiance of the central government.
The beauty contestants stepped into the middle of this power struggle. Even before the pageant began, at least four women refused to participate–to protest Islamic law and, in particular, a Sharia court ruling to stone an unwed mother to death for adultery. (Federal officials say Sharia punishments won’t survive a Supreme Court test.) But authorities put the blame for the violence squarely on the press. “The beauty queens should not feel that they are the cause,” said the president. “It could happen any time irresponsible journalism is committed against Islam.” ThisDay offered a series of apologies. “Islam teaches that no human being is infallible,” one of them read. The paper, owned by a prominent Christian, promised “strong disciplinary measures” for those responsible. But that may not be enough for the government. Sources told NEWSWEEK that police on Saturday detained the editor, and planned to charge him this week.
