Miss World and Miss Israel, Linor Abargil, fell victim three months ago to a rape and attempted murder by Shlomo Nur, the manager of a Milan, Italy travel agency. Tel Aviv District Court Chief Justice Uri Goren today released the incident for publication, at Abargil’s request.
In mid-September 1998, Abargil was invited to Milan by the Look Now agency in coordination with the Israeli models agency Look where Abargil was employed, in order to audition for modeling jobs. After staying a few weeks in Milan, where she was subjected to difficult living conditions, Abargil decided to shorten her stay and return to Israel earlier than planned.
In order to arrange her return to Israel, the agency in Milan directed her to a travel agent named Shlomo Nur. She was told that Nur, an Israeli, could help her arrange her early return.
On October 5, Abargil approached Nur. After an examination that lasted about an hour, Nur informed Abargil that all the flights from Milan to Israel were fully booked, and the only option for returning to Israel early was to take a train to Rome and fly to Israel from there. The following day, Nur informed Abargil that he had trouble finding her an opening on a train or flight to Rome, and there was a possiblity she would miss her flight to Israel. Nur offered to drive Abargil to Rome in his own car, and promised that, once in Rome, he would handle her continued flight arrangements.
Abargil and Nur set out late that same day. According to Abargil, at a certain point Nur deviated from the road, stopped the car at a place not known to her, sat next to her in the back seat, drew a knife, and brutally raped her. Afterwards, he tied her up, covered her mouth with tape and tried to strangle her using a rope and a nylon bag. Abargil fought back with all her might, and finally, when he did not succeed in choking her, Nur freed her, and demanded that she not approach the police.
Abargil testified that she tried to remain calm and promised Nur that it would all be okay and she would not file a complaint. Nur brought Abargil back to Milan and from there she took a train to Rome. Upon arrival in Rome, Abargil filed a complaint against Nur with the Rome police, with the involvement of the Israeli consul. In addition, she hurried to place a collect call her family in Israel and tell them of the rape. A family member hurried to Italy to help Abargil return to Israel.
Nur was freed from custody after the Italian police claimed there was not enough evidence of the rape and attempted murder, despite medical confirmation Abargil provided.
Abargil asked that the Tel Aviv District Court prohibit publication of the affair. The request was supported by the police and the State Attorney’s Office, in order to prevent obstruction of the investigation and bring about Nur’s arrest. Nur traveled freely in Italy for a number of weeks, and, a few days ago, tried to enter Israel where he has family, and was arrested immediately upon entry.
Abargil: My complaint is an example to women who are attacked
In an announcement Abargil gave to the media, she emphasized that since the terrible event she has been going through a very difficult time, which she has tried to hide during her public appearances. Abargil emphasized that she is not ashamed of the event, she did nothing to cause it, and never imagined she would find herself in such a difficult situation.
According to Abargil, she hopes to recover and continue her duties as Miss World, a title she won fairly.
Abargil emphasized that she asked the court to lift the publication ban so the Israeli public would understand what happened. According to her, she filed a complaint with the police in order to serve as an example to many women, who endure an attack incident and must react against such crime, even at the price of public exposure.
Libai: We wanted to refute rumors one of the competition judges raped her
Abargil’s attorney, David Libai, sought today, outside the courtroom to thank the State Attorney’s Office, newspaper editors and radio and television broadcasters for the sensitivity they showed in the case and the exception they made in not asking that the publication ban be removed.
Asked why Abargil motioned for the publication ban to be lifted, Libai responded that Abargil hopes to end the rumor mill that is injuring her and enable her to state her version of events.
According to him, among the false rumors, various people have claimed that the rape was perpetuated on the Seychelles Islands by one of the judges of the Miss World competition and Abargil was crowned in order to ensure her silence in the affair. He emphasized that the false, groundless rumors have hurt Linor Abargil.
Published by Israel's Business Arena January 14, 1999