Iranian beauty queen seeks asylum in PH

MANILA, Philippines — An Iranian beauty queen who was held upon her arrival at Ninoy Aquino International Airport has applied for asylum to prevent her forcible return to her home country.

The Department of Justice said Bahareh Zare Bahari, who represented Iran in the Miss Intercontinental 2018 pageant held in Manila, was prevented from entering the country because of an Interpol “red notice.”

Bahari’s name showed up in the Interpol alert for internationally wanted fugitives due to an assault case filed against her in Iran by a fellow Iranian.

The assault allegedly took place in the Philippines. Justice Undersecretary Mark Perete said the beauty queen would remain in the custody of the Bureau of Immigration until her asylum application has been resolved.

“While the exclusionary proceedings against her has been terminated, Bahari remains in the bureau’s custody and could not be sent back to Iran as she has filed an application for asylum,” Perete told reporters. —Dona Z. Pazzibugan