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Former Miss Universe Iraq Sarah Idan is reflecting on the photo that led her to flee her own country.

The beauty pageant contestant was representing Iraq in 2017 when she famously took a selfie with Miss Israel, Adar Gandelsman, and posted it on social media. She captioned the snap "Peace and Love from Miss Iraq and Miss Israel."

Idan quickly received death threats for the picture as it was interpreted by some as an endorsement of Israel and a betrayal of Palestinian Arabs, the BBC reported. According to the outlet, Idan and her family relocated to the U.S.

"I was in Miss Universe and I took a selfie with Miss Israel, which caused the Iraqi government to decide to take my Iraqi citizenship from me," Idan said in an interview recently uploaded on YouTube. "Basically my family ended up leaving Iraq. I had to leave Iraq just for taking a selfie with Miss Israel."

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When asked if she felt the source of hate against Israel was a more religious or political matter, Idan said "definitely, number one, it is religious."

"There are many things that [radical Islamists teach] Muslim and Arab lands, but I believe the reason they teach them to hate Jews, in the end, is political," she explained. "How can you remove Jews from the Middle East? How can you take over the entire area? The only way they can do that is by convincing them that Jews hate Muslims, Jews seek to destroy the world. They [is a] very radical Islamist ideology out there that also teaches them that Jews are not even human beings. They are satanic creatures in human form."

"The amount of antisemitism that exists in radical Islam, its crazy," she shared. "Its exactly like the Nazi movement and this is why a lot of Islamists have joined their movement with the neo-Nazis in order to defeat Jews all over the world."

Idan noted that Israel and Jews werent the only targets of hate.

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A picture taken on November 21, 2017, shows a picture posted by the Instagram profile of Sarah Idan on November 14, who holds the titles of Miss Iraq USA 2016 and Miss Iraq Universe 2017, as she is seen taking a 'selfie' photograph with Adar Gandelsman, who holds the title of "Miss Universe Israel 2017", with a caption reading: Peace and Love from Miss Iraq and Miss Israel #missuniverse. The post has been 'liked' over 3,600 times since it was first uploaded but it also triggered an avalanche of comments, some positive and others negative in Iraq, which does not recognize the Jewish state and is still technically in a state of war with it. Both contestants defended the post saying they wanted to share a message of peace. (THOMAS COEX/AFP via Getty Images)

"[Radical Islamists] believe that Israel is a huge supporter of the U.S. and in the Middle East and they need to remove that," she said. "If they can remove the American influence and democracy in the Middle East then the next target would not only be the U.S. but Britain and all of Europe.

"Radical Islamists believe that any non-Muslim is kafir or infidel and they dont even deserve to live," she added.

Idan also claimed there are more radical Islamists than one may think.

"What people dont get is that while there are so many peaceful Muslims and they make about two billion of the world population, the amount of radical Islamists within Islam are about 25 so thats 300 million thats the size of the United States," she said.

"Imagine all those people want to eradicate not only state of Israel but the United States and the West its a serious concern that should make everyone worry, not just Jewish people, but all Americans, regardless if they are religious or non-religious," she added.

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Sarah Idan is the founder of Humanity Forward, an organization that is 'committed to building bridges among Muslims and Jews to surpass borders and promote reconciliation, tolerance, mutual understanding, and peace.' (Photo by Franziska Krug/Getty Images)

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In 2018, Idan visited Israel, a trip that enraged people in her native country. At the time she reunited with Gandelsman, 23, during a visit organized by the American Jewish Committee to "talk about peace."

Despite the criticism, Idan said she isnt afraid, and that she visited Israel "because I want peace for everyone, for Israelis, for Palestinians."

Idan is the founder of Humanity Forward, an organization that is "committed to building bridges among Muslims and Jews In order to surpass borders and promote reconciliation, tolerance, mutual understanding, and peace."

According to its website, Idan has remained fearful of returning home.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Excerpt from:
Former Miss Universe Iraq Sarah Idan says radical Islamists want to eradicate Israel and the US - Fox News

At least five PKK terrorists were killed in northern Iraq in an air-backed operation, the Turkish National Defense Ministry said Monday.

In a written statement, the ministry said that the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) and National Intelligence Organization (MIT) jointly conducted the operation in the Gara region.

Northern Iraq is known as the location of many PKK terrorist hideouts and bases from where they carry out attacks in Turkey.

The Turkish military regularly conducts cross-border operations in northern Iraq. Turkey has long been stressing that it will not tolerate terrorist threats posed against its national security and has called on Iraqi officials to take the necessary steps to eliminate the terrorist group. Ankara previously noted that if the expected steps were not taken, it would not shy away from targeting terrorist threats.

In its more than 40-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the United States and the European Union has been responsible for the deaths of 40,000 people, including women and children.

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Turkish military continues operation in northern Iraq | Daily Sabah - Daily Sabah

TEHRAN Iraqs Minister of Culture, Tourism and Antiquities Hassan Nazim has said urgent restoration work is due to commence on Taq Kasra.

Located near Baghdad, the ancient Persian masterpiece of architecture was partly collapsed last year, prompting criticism from many Iranian supporters of cultural heritage.

Studies and preparatory work related to the restoration project have been completed and now we are in the operational stage of rescuing this historical monument, IRNA quoted Nazim as saying on Tuesday.

Scaffolding has been up around the monument and [restoration] work will begin soon under the supervision of the ALIPH Foundation (International Alliance for the protection of Heritage in Conflict Areas), the official said.

In early January, some Iraqi social media users posted pictures of Taq Kasra, writing the vault of the monument is partly collapsed, prompting social media activists and cultural heritage lovers to criticize the Iraqi government over what they named as a neglect of the monument.

For years, there have been talks between Iranian and Iraqi officials to jointly restore the magnificent structure, but nothing happened. Even Iranian archaeologists have repeatedly asked the Iranian authorities to consult on the restoration of the monument in cooperation between the two countries. Because they believe Taq Kasra is in dire need of urgent repairs as every time a part of it collapses.

In 2019, Tehran Municipality hold talks with Baghdads urban planners and authorities to restore several aging monuments in Iraq including Taq Kasra.Ivan Madaen or the Archway of Ctesiphon are other names given to the remains of a circa 3rd6th-century Sasanian-era Persian monument, which is located near the modern town of Salman Pak, a city located approximately 15 miles (24 km) south of Baghdad.

The arch was part of the imperial palace complex, however, the exact time of its construction is not known with certainty. Some historians believe the founder is Shapour I who ruled Persia from 242 to 272 CE and some others believe that construction possibly began during the reign of Anushiruwan the Just (Khosrow I) after a campaign against the Byzantines in 540 CE.

AFM

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Taq Kasra, Persian masterpiece of architecture in Iraq, to be restored - Tehran Times

Over the last five years, Iran has exported $11 billion worth of food and agricultural products to Iraq, said the General Manager for the Arab and African countries of Trade Promotion Organisation of Iran earlier this week. Farzad Pilten said: In the last five years, the total export of agricultural products and food industry to Iraq has reached 11 billion dollars, of which about 3.7 billion dollars are allocated to fruit and vegetables.

Iran's export products have been widely available in the market of agricultural products and food industry despite the fact that these products are produced in Iraq and the Iraqi government imposes prohibitions and tariffs and non-tariff restrictions on the import of some goods," he added.

Iraq is the second-largest importer of Iranian products, after China, which predominantly imports petrochemicals from the Middle Eastern country. Iraqi shipments from Iran focus predominantly on agricultural products, engineering services, construction materials, and energy, such as electricity and natural gas.

According to rudaw.net, the economic impact of the coronavirus dealt a significant blow to trade volume between Iraq and Iran in 2020.

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Iran: Agricultural and food exports to Iraq at 11 billion dollars in five years - FreshPlaza.com

BAGHDAD An official source from the office of Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi said that the leadership of the armed forces was serious in warning the militias against repeating a show of defiance against the state.

The source added to The Arab Weekly that the statements of the Minister of Defence Jumaa Inad echoed the position of the Iraqi prime minister. Other political sources said that the statements made by Inad against the Iranian militias came after Kadhimi encouraged military commanders to strongly condemn the spread of weapons in the country.

Armed militias last Wednesday stormed the Green Zone, brandishing weapons in a new show of force. On Saturday, the Iraqi minister of defence announced that the army would respond to any further armed display carried out by the militias.

Iraqi military and parliamentary sources also revealed that the Iraqi government is currently studying possible scenarios to respond to armed rallies, if they are repeated in Baghdad.

Kadhimi is clearly trying to exploit the publics support for expanding the states authority and curbing the spread of militias weapons, following the arrest of a prominent leader with the Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF), Qassem Musleh, for his involvement in terrorist and criminal acts.

So far, pressure from Irans allies on Kadhimi to release Musleh, who is accused of leading assassination groups against activists who oppose Irans influence over the Iraqi state, has failed.

After Muslehs arrest, the three executive, legislative and judicial authorities in Iraq seemed united, with all expressing clear positions and emphasising the need to extend the authority of the state, bolster the rule of law and curb the spread of weapons.

An Iraqi parliamentarian considered that Kadhimi had succeeded in this round of the showdown with militias. The parliamentarian, who spoke on condition of anonymity, argued the premier managed to end two things: the governments inability to confront armed rallies and the PMFs ability to control the political game.

Kadhimi benefited from the folly that was on display on the night of terror that the militias created to prove that such militias should not be viewed as supportive to the government or any project for establishing a national state. On the contrary, the militias are clearly working to destroy the foundations of the state in order to perpetuate chaos, the parliamentarian told The Arab Weekly.

Observers believe the PMFs leadership has avoided escalation, which will encourage Kadhimis government to proceed with investigation procedures and allow the judiciary to carry out its duty to the fullest when it comes to Muslehs case.

Unlike previous governments, Kadhimis cabinet, regardless of political affiliations, appeared united in the face of the show of force carried out by the militias.

Iraqi political analyst Saleh al-Hamdani said the statement of the Iraqi defense minister gives a clear indication that there is a Western-backed government move towards restructuring the PMF.

The role of the PMF in fighting ISIS was significant, but it was exaggerated by the media of the armed factions on a regular basis, angering the officers of the armed forces who saw their roles belittled. Therefore, the ministers statements echo the viewpoint of Iraqi soldiers and officers, serving with the army, the police and the counter-terrorism agency, Hamdani said.

He expected that Iraq would turn the page on the PMF, with the number of it fighters eventually being cut down or merged with state forces. The PMF, he said, has been part of the Wests and Saudi Arabias negotiations with Iran. However, with pressure from Kadhimis government, the PMF could eventually be subjected to the law in a manne that contains the sway of armed factions.

The Iraqi defence minister had considered the recent militias moves in response to Muslehs arrest as a major security breach and an attack on the state.

The weapons owned by the Popular Mobilisation Forces do not pose any threat to the army forces, said Inad, pointing out that the army, which is capable of fighting a country, can stand up to irregular forces that possess simple weapons.

Whoever engages in arm-wrestling and wields force must know their true size, he warned, stressing that the prime minister had told him that he did not want bloodshed.

After the arrest of Musleh, forces from the crowd surrounded, for some time, on Wednesday, the house of Kadhimi and other sites in the Green Zone in the centre of the capital, Baghdad.

Commenting on the PMFs role in the battles against ISIS, the defence minister said, Whoever believes the army forces were unable to fight ISIS without the PMF are wrong.

Yes, the PMF has accelerated the liberation operations. If the army was on its own, then victory over ISIS would have been achieved within five or six years.

The PMF is a grouping of militias, most of which are loyal to Iran and are run by Shia parties, despite the fact that it is an institution affiliated with the Iraqi armed forces and is directly linked to the prime minister.

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Iraq's government warns PMF against challenging the state | | AW - The Arab Weekly