THE Bureau of Immigration has barred Iranian beauty queen Bahareh Zare Bahari from entering the country last week because of a red notice issued by the Interpol, the Department of Justice said yesterday.
Justice Undersecretary Markk Perete said the red notice was based on a criminal case for assault filed against her by a fellow Iranian that “allegedly happened in the Philippines.”
“While the exclusionary proceedings against her have been terminated, Bahare remains in BI custody and could not be sent back to Iran as she has filed an application for asylum. Such application the Department of Justice shall resolve in due time,” Perete said.
“She will not be returned to Iran pending resolution of her petition for asylum,” Perete said, adding the immigration bureau has been directed to furnish the DOJ details related to the asylum application and the assault case.
The justice department official said initial information received by the DOH indicated the assault complaint was filed against the beauty queen in Iran.
Asked if Iranian authorities have jurisdiction over the assault case since it allegedly happened in the Philippines, the DOJ official said he will need to check Iran’s history on territorial issues related to criminal cases committed outside of the Arab country.
“I am not sure if Iran follows the territoriality principle in determining criminal jurisdiction. There are a number of states which base criminal jurisdiction on extra territoriality, on the basis of nationality, and other reasons,’ Perete said.
Bahare, who was Iran’s representative in the 2018 Miss Intercontinental pageant held in Manila, earlier said the BI was set to deport her after the Iranian government made “a fake case” against her.