6 Sunday, April 30, 2017 Sunday, April 30, 2017 7 candidates square off in first TV debate

Ange, a young Indonesian Muslim cosplayer dressed as the Kamen rider Gaim

A cosplay enthusiast takes part in the “Hijab Cosplay” event in Subang Jaya Iranian presidential candidates (L to R) Mostafa Hashemitaba, , Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, , and Mostafa Mirsalim attend a live debate on state TV Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan Tehran believed to have influenced the conservative rivals Ebrahim he six candidates standing results in 2009 and 2013. Raisi and Tehran mayor in Iran’s presidential Ahead of the May 19 poll, electionT squared off in their the interior ministry had all rejected the ban. first ever live television announced a ban on live On Friday, during the first debate Friday, with moderate television debates, triggering live debate, Ghalibaf hammered President Hassan Rouhani an outcry that prompted a Rouhani and his confidant coming under fire from a key reversal of its decision. Three and first vice-president, Turkey, US can rival. live debates are now expected Eshaq Jahangiri, with both Televised debates are a to take place. sides trading accusations of relatively new feature of Iranian Rouhani, who is hoping for “lies” and making “insincere” turn Raqa into presidential elections, and are a second term in office, and comments. ‘graveyard’ for

Nurul Syakirah poses Nurul Athirah, a young Malaysian as a mascot for the Muslim cosplayer dressed as IS: Erdogan “Hijab Cosplay “Kagamine Rin” Istanbul the future of the relationship Erdogan said he would urkey and the United with Washington under present Trump at their TStates can join forces Trump after ties frayed in the meeting next month with Kuala Lumpur skills and that there had been a lot of to turn the Islamic State final years of Barack Obama’s “documents” proving the uslim women dressed as positive reaction. jihadist group’s de-facto administration. YPG’s links to the PKK, superheroes, princesses, “Some people are sometimes capital of Raqa in Syria The two countries have which is designated as a Mand mighty sword-wielding surprised when they see my hijab... but into a “graveyard” for the bitterly disagreed over the terror group by Ankara and Nana dressed as warriors took part in a it doesn’t bother me. My friends and extremists, the Turkish role of the Kurdish People’s Washington. a character from hijab cosplay event in my family support me and I also get president said yesterday. Protection Units (YPG) in “We are telling American Zootopia Malaysia yesterday, invited to birthday parties to attend The Turkish government Syria. friends not to take a terror where the role- with my costume,” she said. is pressuring Washington Turkey sees the group as a group along with them,” the playing craze “I love cosplay and I get to make to stop backing Kurdish terrorist group linked to the Turkish leader said. continues to grow. new friends here and also in the fighters as an ally in the fight outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Turkey on Wednesday Around 20 international cosplay community.” against IS jihadists in Syria, Party (PKK), which has been carried out several strikes women showcased Raja Muhammad Rusydi, a 20-year- in a dispute that has limited waging a deadly insurgency in Syria and Iraq against their love for old male cosplay enthusiast who also cooperation between the against the Turkish state separatist Kurdish rebels anime with took part in Saturday’s showcase said NATO allies. since 1984. and their allies, drawing the elaborate make-up he hoped such events will generate “The huge America, the But for the United States, wrath of US officials who and costumes while more interest among hijab-wearing coalition and Turkey can the YPG is essential in the accused Ankara of lacklustre still wearing their women to take part in cosplay activities. join hands and turn Raqa fight against IS jihadists. coordination. traditional hijab -- “I support them. If they love the into a graveyard for Daesh,” The dispute has until now The strikes in the Sinjar the headscarf worn character and have the passion, they President Recep Tayyip held up any joint American- area of northern Iraq were by many Muslim should do it.” Erdogan told an Istanbul Turkish operation to seize against positions held by women in Malaysia -- In cosplay, short for costume role- meeting, using an alternative Raqa and Erdogan is clearly the Yazidi Protection Units at the event at a mall play, enthusiasts gather to imitate name for the IS group. hoping for a breakthrough at (YBS), a militia supported by on the outskirts of Kuala characters from anime series, comics “They (the jihadists) will his meeting with Trump. the PKK. Lumpur. and video games, many drawn from look for a place for themselves Turkey this month “We launched strikes Many participants took Japanese pop culture. to hide,” he said. announced it had completed against Sinjar, and the other photos with each other, The cosplay fad has swept much of Erdogan’s comments come its half-year Euphrates Shield place (in Syria) and killed 210 mingled and networked, the world and has been popular for over ahead of a meeting with operation in northern Syria to 220 terrorists there. Why? sharing costume and make- two decades in Malaysia. President Donald Trump against jihadists and Kurdish You cannot play with this up tips. But hijab cosplay has only become on May 16 in the United militia, although it is keeping nation,” Erdogan said. Nurul Shafiqah, a Nur Azlina, a 21-year-old popular in the last few years in the States, their first face-to-face a presence to maintain He hinted at future young Malaysian university student, decked out Southeast Asian nation and has summit since the American security in towns now under operations against the YPG Muslim cos- in a “Power Ranger” outfit, said generated much buzz among those in leader took office in January. control of pro-Ankara Syrian and PKK in Iraq and Syria. player dressed as a hijab did not hinder her cosplay the cosplay scene. (AFP) Ankara is hopeful about rebels. (AFP) “Hatsune Miku”