World Watch
May 31, 2011 11:01 AM

Muslim girl in beauty contest found murdered

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Katya Koren

(Credit: Facebook)

Updated on 6/1/2011 to reflect conflicting reports

A teenage Muslim girl's body was found dumped in a forest the Crimean peninsula one week after she was reported missing. Local media initially reported that she was stoned to death by suspects claiming the 19-year-old has violated Sharia law by taking part in a beauty contest, a British newspaper reports.

Will Stewart of the Daily Mail writes that Koren's appeared to have suffered head injuries and been strangled.

However, the Daily Telegraph writes that local police are claiming "her killing had nothing to do with sectarian violence and that the girl had been killed by a psychologically troubled classmate who had given her a lift on his moped and then robbed and possibly raped her before battering her to death with a rock."

Sergei Reznikov, a senior policeman involved in the case, told the Telegraph: "A student did it, killing his classmate. There is no other underlying reason, neither religious nor linked with inter-ethnic conflicts."

Initial reports had indicated that three Muslim youths killed her, saying her death was justified under Islamic law because taking part in a beauty contest is a violation of it.

The Daily Mail reported that one 16-year-old suspect under arrest told police Koren had "violated the laws of Sharia."

According to an official report on a Crimean government website, the 16-year-old classmate confessed to her murder, and gave as his reason, "I just wanted to kill her."

While the area is home to some 250,000 Muslims, incidents of Sharia Law being enforced are almost unheard of, the Telegraph reports. The 16-year-old suspect allegedly has a history of mental health issues, and is being evaluated currently for whether he is of sound mind.


Add a Comment See all 178 Comments
by nfission August 9, 2011 8:59 AM EDT
Beauty is a threat to the Muslims and anti-female Taliban, that's why women have to cover their heads and faces in many of the Arab countries, beauty is power and women aren't allowed power in a patriarchal society.
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by wdh3007 August 5, 2011 2:29 AM EDT
This is what happens when you let muslims infiltrate a country and why the so called religion of pecase is not the religion of peace.
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by mrahaman-2009 July 30, 2011 2:49 PM EDT
SHAME ON CBS! Katya Koren is actually a 19 year-old CHRISTIAN woman originally from Russia, who had been missing in Sovyetskiy-Crimea for a week according to Crimean Tatar reports. The murder was not committed because of any religious reason, whether Islam or Christianity, but after sexual harassment by 16 year old Gaziyev, 16, a Crimean Tatar. Since when every murder in other countries is reported here in the US or is it only because the false report said "Muslim".
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by Ackthpt July 23, 2011 8:40 PM EDT
If she WASN'T Muslim this headline would read:

"Girl in beauty contest found murdered"

Shame on you CBS - try flatly reporting the news instead of trying to manipulate us.
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by albertsneij July 28, 2011 1:00 PM EDT
very good point
by rotorhead1871 July 29, 2011 12:58 AM EDT
they are just fanning the religious hate fires.....BUT it is still sad, RIP young lady...
by jmach6677 July 23, 2011 1:00 PM EDT
Whether or not she was killed by Muslim fundamentalists is irrelevant, what she did was against Sharia Law and could have been killed in many places for her trespass, many Islamic women have been killed or Maimed for much less. If you are a Muslim I understand your frustration at the chaos in your religion but don't hide behind shouts of bigotry, if you kill other Muslims not in your sect dont you think this has shades of being a Bigot?
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by patriotgal2 July 23, 2011 12:43 AM EDT
Ya know, the govt. there can cover it up however much they're paid to do it - but the rest of the world knows how Muslim fundamentalists operate. I feel sorry for the poor innocent guy this is being pinned on. He probably supported her and that's why he's being framed for her murder. Personally, I think countries should just begin banning the practice of Islam, period. It is a violent, archaic religion based on a man who was a thief and con man, and practiced by some of the world's most ignorant and stupid people. Yes, Christianity has some kooks, too, but we've learned a bit in the last 1000 years since the crusades. Unfortunately, Muslims are waaaay out of touch, care nothing for peace, and make a mockery of their religion by these kind of acts - and then, cowards that they are, won't even own up to them. That's just pure evil.
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by voxpopulus July 17, 2011 7:26 PM EDT
"Christian stones gay man to death" --- Look it up. A Christian, named John Thomas, stoned a gay man, Murray Seidman, to death in Philadelphia and claimed to have done it in the name of the Holy Bible. The difference is the news bothered to get the story straight on that one, and even trotted out people to defend the Bible.
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by voxpopulus July 17, 2011 7:21 PM EDT
The headline here should be: "Girl killed by crazed admirer". Her religion had nothing to do with it. Shame on you for pushing an anti-Muslim story that other news organisations have long since debunked.
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by RivenDusk July 29, 2011 1:52 PM EDT
Granted, it really should have been typed that way... however people that murder one-another usually use more conventional instruments of lethality. Having someone 'stoned to death' automatically invokes Old Testament or Sharia Law flavors. :(
by WillowSunstar July 17, 2011 6:52 PM EDT
I do not understand why anyone still supports Islam. This is a religion that wants women to be nothing more than slaves.
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by bigsk8fan July 17, 2011 5:33 PM EDT
islam, the so called religion of peace. who the heck would want to be a lousy murdering blood sucking scum of a muslim? give up your lousy and bloodthirsty religion ye muslim sinners of mohammed!
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