Valerie Weigmann defends Miss Lebanon over selfie with Miss Israel

MANILA, Philippines - Miss World Philippines 2014 Valerie Weigmann took to social media to defend Saly Greige, Lebanon’s representative to the upcoming 2015 Miss Universe pageant, over her photo with Miss Israel Doron Matalon. 

 

“If people were really motivated by a desire for peace, then they should avoid snap judgments and knee jerk reactions,” Weigmann said on her Instagram account on Tuesday.

 

READ: Miss Lebanon under fire after posing for a 'selfie' with Miss Israel

 

This came as Greige was slammed after a photo of herself with Matalon, along with two other Miss Universe contestants, circulated online. Israel, a Jewish state, and Lebanon, a country with a Muslim majority, have been at war with each other for several years. 

 

Greige explained she’s been “cautious to avoid being in any photo or communication with Miss Israel.” However, Miss Lebanon said that while she was taking a photo with Miss Japan and Miss Slovenia, Matalon “suddenly jumped in, took a selfie, and put it on her social media [account].”

 

 

Her statement was criticized on social media, with netizens echoing Matalon’s statement that Greige “can not put the hostility out of the game.”

 

But Weigmann said netizens should not immediately judge Greige.

 

“Under Lebanese Law, interaction with an Israeli citizen is a criminal act,” she said.

 

Weigmann and Greige were both part of the Miss World 2014 pageant last December.

 

She added, “To most of us, it is a divisive, if not abhorrent law, which must be struck down. For Miss Lebanon, it is a HARSH AND PAINFUL REALITY, which she would be returning to.” 

 

 

 

“It is easy for us to judge her, but I ask everyone to put themselves in her shoes. If you lived under such a regime, would you have the temerity to violate such laws?” Weigmann further said. 

 

The Filipina beauty added Miss Lebanon is a “sweet, caring person.”

 

“I believe that she may only have been trying to avoid prosecution or persecution,” Weigmann said.

 

In a statement regarding the snafu between Miss Lebanon and Miss Israel, the Miss Universe organization said, “It is unfortunate to know a photo of four smiling women from different parts of the world, working together at an event, could be misconstrued as anything other than what it is, a celebration of universal friendship."