ICEJ supports Lalela for ‘brave stand’ in face of pressure to withdraw from pageant

The International Christian Embassy Jerusalem strongly supports Miss SA, Lalela Mswane, as she plans to travels to Israel to partake in the upcoming Miss Universe contest, says the SA branch of the ICEJ in a media statment.

The statement continues: “Lalela Mswane has taken a brave stand in the face of massive pressure to withdraw from the SA government’s Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture, Nathi Mthethwa. She is in good company with other courageous women who have gone before her in not allowing themselves to be intimidated by a minority group of bullies. (Lalela has spoken about being bullied as a child and says that she will not allow herself to be bullied as an adult). 

“One of the courageous women who have gone before her is Sarah Idan who represented Iraq at the 2017 pageant in Las Vegas when she snapped a picture of herself with Miss Israel, Adar Gandelsman, and posted it online. In the caption, she wrote ‘Peace and Love from Miss Iraq and Miss Israel’. Some people in Iraq did not see it that way and, she said, sent her death threats.

“’When I posted the picture, I didn’t think for a second there would be blowback,’ she told CNN at the time. ‘I woke up to calls from my family and the Miss Iraq Organization going insane. The death threats I got online were so scary.’

“The former Miss Iraq, Sarah Abdali Idan has also addressed Mandla Mandela and his call for African countries to boycott the Miss Universe competition. 

“The ANC-led SA government continues to make themselves irrelevant on the world stage, choosing to rather support terrorist governments like Iran who perpetuate human right abuses instead of building relationship with nations who foster peace and hope. Israel is a beacon of light for many in  in Africa as they continue to offer various services and are actively investing in vulnerable communities with essential services. 

“SA would be better positioned to make a positive contribution on issues in the Middle East if they rather followed the examples of Arab nation states such as the UAE, Bahrain and Morocco, who have put historical prejudices aside to rather focus on working towards mutually beneficial relations with Israel, who is an example in promoting and protecting human rights on more levels than other nation in the Middle East.  

“Clearly most South Africans are not behind the ANC government’s position, as various surveys are showing more support for her stand than for the ANC led government’s stance         

“We also salute the SA Miss SA chief executive, Stephanie Weil and her team for supporting Miss SA in her decision to participate, saying she should not be robbed of her moment and that the organisation was “thrilled to be able to make Lalela’s childhood dream — to wear the crown while representing her country globally — come true”.  

“We wish Lalela well as she represents South Africa on 13th December at the beautiful multi-cultural town of Eilat in Southern Israel.”

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