An Iranian beauty queen who supports protests against the brutal Iranian regime has requested asylum in the Philippines after an Interpol alert about her filed by Tehran got her detained at the Manila airport.

Bahareh Zare Bahari has been held at Ninoy Aquino International Airport’s Terminal 3 since October 17, as authorities examine Iran’s allegation that she assaulted a fellow Iranian in the Philippines and Bahari’s counter-claim that the Islamic Republic is targeting her for her political activism and that the charges against her are fake.

Various media outlets have quoted Bahari as saying that if she is deported to Iran in compliance with the Interpol Red Notice, “they will kill me.”

“I am against our government. The Iran government is terrorist. I always try to [give a] voice [to] my people on media,” she told The Philippine Star.

“I used [Pahlavi’s] photo on stage to be [the] voice of my people because all news and media are ignoring my people,” she told The Telegraph on Tuesday.

Bahari, who represented Iran at the 2018 Miss Intercontinental pageant in Manila and who has been studying dentistry in the Philippines since 2014, is an outspoken women’s rights advocate and a supporter of opposition activists in her country.

Earlier this year she angered Iran’s Islamist government by waving a photo of prominent government critic Reza Pahlavi at a pageant. Joining a beauty pageant is in itself frowned upon by the conservative religious leadership.

Markk Perete, undersecretary at the Philippine department of justice, said: “The only reason she was held at the airport — and we really don’t call it detention, it is really restraining her from entering the Philippine territory — is only because of that Red Notice issued against her.”

Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director for Human Rights Watch, was quoted by The Telegraph as urging a “fair and impartial hearing of her claim” and saying it was “absolutely critical the Philippines provides Bahareh Zare Bahari with support, including access to legal counsel, to compile and file her asylum application.”

“While waiting for the details to become clear, there should be no action under Iran’s Interpol red notice, especially since under Interpol rules a red notice is null and void if the person named in the notice is found to be a refugee fleeing from the state that issued it.”

FREE COPY: Understanding the threat from Iran

Covering the threat from Iran to Israel and the West, plus the plight of the Iranian people: Read our Operation Mordecai campaign booklet online or receive a FREE copy by post.

Related Articles:

Britain and France are on a dangerous path concerning Israel

We are becoming increasingly troubled by the actions of our government in the UK. Interestingly, France and the UK appear to be on parallel paths when it comes to their anti-Israel agenda; from...

Iran-linked plot to target Israeli embassy is a reminder to BAN the IRGC

“Banning the IRGC would help disrupt the Iranian regime's ability to fund, recruit, and protect individuals and organizations within the UK, potentially preventing plots—such as the...

The streets of Britain must be safe place for Jews again – CUFI Prayer

This week the United Kingdom has celebrated the 80th anniversary since VE Day - Victory in Europe. On 8th May 1945, men, women and children poured onto the streets of Britain to...

Pastor John Hagee’s full speech at JNS summit in Jerusalem

This week Pastor John Hagee, the founder and chairman of Christians United for Israel (CUFI), was honoured to speak at the JNS International Policy Summit in Jerusalem, Israel on 28...

How Israel’s devastating wildfires reveal flames of antisemitic hate

“When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned,Nor shall the flame scorch you.”Isaiah 43:2bHamas calls on Palestinians to set fires in the West Bank.Flames are being fanned by...