Former Miss Iraq to be stripped of citizenship over her Israel support

Iraq intends to cancel the citizenship of its former beauty queen for her unapologetic support of Israel.

By David Isaac, World Israel News

Miss Iraq 2017 reacted with disbelief on Thursday at news that the country she once represented at the Miss Universe pageant plans to revoke her citizenship over her outspoken support for the Jewish State.

Sarah Idan tweeted, “2 weeks ago Iraq denied my statements at the UN that I don’t have freedom to speak about Israel now they’re taking my citizenship. This is inhumane. I’m speechless…”

The former beauty pageant winner retweeted a report from Baghdad Today which said “Iraq Parliamentary Security Declares its Support to Abolish the Nationality of Miss Iraq & Prevent her Entry & return into Iraq because of its Statements Concerning Israel.”

Idan has been remarkably open about her support for Israel. Most recently, she defended Israel at the 41st session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva on July 2.

“The issue between Arabs and Israelis goes beyond policy disagreements. It’s deeply rooted in the belief systems taught in Muslim countries, which are anti-Semitic,” Idan said.

In a July 9 interview with i24NEWS, Idan said “I feel I speak for many people when I say we’re really tired of using these two words – the ‘Palestinian cause’ – as a weapon… to use it as a weapon to justify hatred, to justify violence, to justify that we need to be at war when we should… reach a solution between the two countries.”

Idan’s call for rapprochement apparently fell on deaf ears in her country.

In November 2017, the Iraqi beauty was threatened with death and rape when she posed for a selfie with then-Miss Israel, Adar Gandelsman. The Instagram caption read “Peace and Love.”

Idan has founded an NGO Humanity Forward. “The organization is committed to building bridges among Muslims and Jews in order to surpass borders and promote reconciliation, tolerance, mutual understanding, and peace,” according to the group’s website.

According to Wikipedia, Idan was born and raised in Baghdad. At 13, she taught herself English by listening to western music. Her English ability landed her work as a linguist in the U.S. military at 18.

Idan later moved to the U.S. where she studied music, graduating from the Musicians Institute in performance arts in Los Angeles with an emphasis on jazz and contemporary music.