Iranian beauty granted asylum

If they (Philippines) deport me (back to) Iran, (they will) at least give me 25 years in jail if they do not kill me

Former Miss Iran Bahareh Zare Bahari has been granted asylum in the Philippines almost a month after the beauty queen was arrested at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

Justice Undersecretary and spokesperson Markk Perete confirmed the grant of asylum yesterday.

Bahari arrived in Manila from a two-week vacation in Dubai on 18 October, but was barred by authorities from leaving the airport due to an International Police red notice

“I can confirm that her (asylum) application has been approved as of Tuesday,” Perete said.

He added that he had yet to verify if Bahari had been allowed to leave the airport and admitted into the Philippines, adding that “as of Tuesday evening, the BI (Bureau of Immigration) has started processing her papers pursuant to the ruling on her (asylum) application.”

Immigration officials said Bahari’s red notice was due to an assault and battery case allegedly committed in Dagupan City.

However, the Iranian beauty denied the charge against her, saying it was all made up. In seeking asylum, she said she would be killed or imprisoned if she is sent back to Iran for supporting an opposition politician, violating traditional values by joining a beauty pageant and speaking up for women’s rights.

“If they (Philippines) deport me (back to) Iran, (they will) at least give me 25 years in jail if they do not kill me,” Bahari said in an interview last month.

She was the Iranian representative to the Miss Intercontinental 2018 pageant held in Manila.

The Justice department said it will recommend to the Department of Foreign Affairs the issuance of a travel document should Bahari need one.