Latest news with #MerinceKogoya
Arab News
a day ago
- Politics
- Arab News
Miss Indonesia contestant removed from pageant after pro-Israel video
JAKARTA: A Miss Indonesia contestant has been removed from the pageant after a video showing her waving the Israeli flag went viral, sparking backlash in a country that has long stood in solidarity with Palestine. Merince Kogoya, who was set to represent the province of Highland Papua at the Miss Indonesia finals on July 9, was dropped from the competition last week after the video from May 2023 gained traction on social media. The clip, which shows Kogoya dancing with the Israeli flag, sparked outrage among Indonesians and prompted pageant organizers to quietly remove Kogoya from the competition. She was replaced with Karmen Anastasya, a runner-up from the same province. On Monday, Kogoya posted on Instagram — where her bio reads 'I stand with Israel' — that she was replaced due to 'public comments,' referring to the backlash she faced. 'My two-year-old video reel was widely shared with various misinterpretations about my beliefs,' she wrote. 'I am also conveying my apology to the Highland Papua family, I have tried to give my best but the fact is that @missindonesia's decision was taken based on comments that were not in line with my beliefs.' Kogoya did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Arab News. Indonesia, the world's fourth most populous country, has long been a staunch supporter of Palestine, as its people and government see Palestinian statehood as mandated by their own constitution, which calls for the abolition of colonialism. The Southeast Asian nation has no diplomatic relations with Israel, and the Indonesian government has repeatedly called for an end to the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories and for a two-state solution based on pre-1967 borders. Hundreds and thousands of Indonesians across the country have rallied in solidarity with Palestine since the beginning of Israel's onslaught on Gaza in October 2023, while they also take part in mass boycotts of products and companies linked to Israel. To date, Israel has killed more than 56,000 Palestinians and wounded over 133,000 others. The true death toll is feared to be much higher, with research published in The Lancet medical journal in January estimated an underreporting of deaths by 41 percent. The study also takes into account the possibility of a higher death toll, as it does not include deaths caused by starvation, injury and lack of access to healthcare, caused by Israeli forces' destruction of most of Gaza's infrastructure and the blocking of medical and food aid.
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Who is Merince Kogoya? Miss Indonesia 2025 contestant kicked out amid outcry over pro-Israel video
Miss Indonesia 2025 contestant Merince Kogoya's two year-old video about endorsing Israel reappeared on social media, leading to her disqualification. Miss Indonesia contestant Merince Kogoya was disqualified after a two-year-old video endorsing Israel resurfaced, sparking outrage in the pro-Palestinian country. Highland Papua representative Kogoya was removed from the pageant during the quarantine period after her old video went viral on social media. Kogoya can be seen dancing while waving an Israeli flag in the video, which was purportedly taken while she was studying overseas. 'Diligent for Sion, loyal to Jerusalem, standing for Israel,' the translated caption of the video read. Kogoya immediately faced intense backlash because Indonesia, the most populous Muslim country in the world, has no diplomatic ties with Israel and is an ardent supporter of Palestine. The President of Indonesia, Prabowo Subianto, stated in May that his country would be open to establishing diplomatic relations with the Jewish state 'once Israel recognizes Palestine.' Pro-Palestinian sentiments are quite prominent in Indonesia, where thousands of people participate in large-scale demonstrations against Israel, raising Palestinian flags in support. Also Read: Ivanka Trump's hubby Jared Kushner's eight-word demand at Bezos lavish Venice wedding revealed: 'She'd like to…' Miss Indonesia 2025 yet to issue any statement The pageant's organizers discreetly eliminated Kogoya from the contest due to to the outcry over her video, replacing her with Karmen Anastasya, her province's first runner-up, as per The Jakarta Globe. However, the Miss Indonesia organization has not provided any statement on Kogoya's disqualification. Netizens respond Expressing rage and disappointment over her video, one X user wrote: 'By considering the genocide committed by Israel as merely a religious conflict, she has already shown she doesn't meet the bare minimum for Miss Indonesia, who must have broad knowledge. No morals or empathy, even though in this day and age there's plenty of information, yet she chooses to think that way,' as per an online translation. 'What kind of competition is this? A competition to be supporters of the TERRORIST Hamas? So dumb, ' another wrote showing support for Kogoya. Merince Kogoya reacts to criticism According to reports, Kogoya responded to the outrage by claiming in an Instagram Story on Monday that the video was not political but rather reflected her Christian beliefs. She wrote, 'I was simply practicing my faith as a follower of Christ by praying and offering blessings, but an old video from my reels went viral with many false interpretations about my beliefs.' Meanwhile, social media commenters pointed out, her Instagram bio still featured the phrase "I stand with Israel" at the moment. In October 2023, Hamas attacked southern Israel, killing over 1,100 people and taking 251 hostage, sparking the beginning of the war on Gaza. Over 56,000 Palestinians have been killed in the Israeli war so far, the local health ministry reported.
The Independent
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Independent
Pageant contestant in Muslim majority nation ousted over pro-Israel video
Miss Indonesia 2025 contestant Merince Kogoya was disqualified after a two-year-old video showing her expressing support for Israel resurfaced. The video, reportedly from her time studying abroad, showed Kogoya holding and waving an Israeli flag while dancing, with a pro-Israel caption. Kogoya faced significant backlash in Indonesia, a majority Muslim nation with strong pro-Palestinian sentiment and no diplomatic relations with Israel. The pageant organisers quietly removed Kogoya from the competition and replaced her with contestant Karmen Anastasya, without issuing an official statement. Kogoya responded to the backlash by stating the video was not political but represented her Christian faith, though her Instagram bio reportedly still displayed 'I stand with Israel'.
The Star
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Star
Miss Indonesia finalist expelled over old pro-Israel video
JAKARTA: A contestant in the Miss Indonesia 2025 beauty pageant has been expelled after a video emerged showing her waving the Israeli flag and offering prayers for the country, sparking a backlash in the Muslim-majority nation amid tensions over Israel's actions in Gaza. Merince Kogoya (pic), who represented the province of Highland Papua, was officially removed from the competition on June 26 after the resurfaced video went viral on social media. The footage, believed to have been uploaded two years ago - before the outbreak of the Gaza war in October 2023 - shows Kogoya displaying the Israeli flag and praying for the Jewish state. However, her actions were widely interpreted as support for Israel during its military campaign against Palestinians. The controversy forced the Miss Universe Indonesia organisers to send her home from the pageant's quarantine phase and replace her with another contestant. In a statement posted to Instagram on Monday (July 1), Kogoya defended herself, saying the video was not a political statement but an expression of her Christian faith. "My two-year-old video reel was widely shared and misinterpreted in ways that do not reflect my beliefs,' she wrote. Indonesia does not maintain diplomatic ties with Israel and has long supported the Palestinian cause. Public expressions seen as sympathetic to Israel frequently trigger controversy in the country. - dpa
South China Morning Post
2 days ago
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
Miss Indonesia contestant sent packing for pro-Israel video
A contestant in the Miss Indonesia 2025 beauty pageant has been expelled after a video emerged showing her waving the Israeli flag and offering prayers for the country, sparking a backlash in the Muslim-majority nation amid tensions over Israel 's actions in Gaza Merince Kogoya, who represented the province of Highland Papua, was officially removed from the competition on Thursday last week after the resurfaced video went viral on social media. The footage, believed to have been uploaded two years ago - before the outbreak of the Gaza war in October 2023 - shows Kogoya displaying the Israeli flag and praying for the Jewish state. However, her actions were widely interpreted as support for Israel during its military campaign against Palestinians. The controversy forced the Miss Universe Indonesia organisers to send her home from the pageant's quarantine phase and replace her with another contestant. In a statement posted to Instagram on Monday, Kogoya defended herself, saying the video was not a political statement but an expression of her Christian faith. 'My two-year-old video reel was widely shared and misinterpreted in ways that do not reflect my beliefs,' she wrote.
