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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Row over girl's Rio Carnival role | Row over girl's Rio Carnival role |
| (about 6 hours later) | |
| A row has erupted in Brazil over the decision to make a seven-year-old girl "queen" of a top samba school taking part in the Rio de Janeiro Carnival. | A row has erupted in Brazil over the decision to make a seven-year-old girl "queen" of a top samba school taking part in the Rio de Janeiro Carnival. |
| Children's rights groups have raised concerns that it is inappropriate for a child to take on the traditionally "sexy" role for the 80-minute parade. | Children's rights groups have raised concerns that it is inappropriate for a child to take on the traditionally "sexy" role for the 80-minute parade. |
| But Julia Lira's father dismissed their concerns, saying she was a natural and would cope with dancing in the heat. | But Julia Lira's father dismissed their concerns, saying she was a natural and would cope with dancing in the heat. |
| A judge is now considering a ban on her starring role in next week's parade. | A judge is now considering a ban on her starring role in next week's parade. |
| Julia has been picked as the drum corps queen for the Viradouro Samba School, which is among a dozen top-tier samba groups to take part in the annual Carnival. | Julia has been picked as the drum corps queen for the Viradouro Samba School, which is among a dozen top-tier samba groups to take part in the annual Carnival. |
| To be queen of a Rio samba school is one of the most sought after roles in carnival but is more often associated with scantily-clad women, for whom a little plastic surgery is not uncommon, the BBC's Gary Duffy in Sao Paulo says. | To be queen of a Rio samba school is one of the most sought after roles in carnival but is more often associated with scantily-clad women, for whom a little plastic surgery is not uncommon, the BBC's Gary Duffy in Sao Paulo says. |
| While Julia would certainly represent a very different image, her potential participation is alarming child welfare groups, our correspondent says. | While Julia would certainly represent a very different image, her potential participation is alarming child welfare groups, our correspondent says. |
| Any man who looks at a seven-year-old girl and feels any sort of excitement should go see a doctor Marco Lira, Julia's father class="" href="/2/hi/americas/8502028.stm">Readers react to decision | |
| The Rio de Janeiro state Council for the Defence of Children and Adolescents suggested it would only "increase the treatment of children as sexual objects in Brazilian society". | The Rio de Janeiro state Council for the Defence of Children and Adolescents suggested it would only "increase the treatment of children as sexual objects in Brazilian society". |
| "We're not against kids participating in Carnival; it's part of Brazilian culture," the council's director, Carlos Nicodemos, told the Associated Press (AP) news agency. | "We're not against kids participating in Carnival; it's part of Brazilian culture," the council's director, Carlos Nicodemos, told the Associated Press (AP) news agency. |
| "What we can't allow is putting a seven-year-old girl in a role that traditionally has a very sexual focus." | "What we can't allow is putting a seven-year-old girl in a role that traditionally has a very sexual focus." |
| Viradouro organisers have said Julia's outfit will be appropriate for a child and that she will cope with the demands of dancing for 80 minutes in the sweltering summer heat. | Viradouro organisers have said Julia's outfit will be appropriate for a child and that she will cope with the demands of dancing for 80 minutes in the sweltering summer heat. |
| Marco Lira : "âShe is a child who is capable of being queen of the drum callâ | |
| "Any man who looks at a seven-year-old girl and feels any sort of excitement should go see a doctor," her father, Marco Lira, told AP. | "Any man who looks at a seven-year-old girl and feels any sort of excitement should go see a doctor," her father, Marco Lira, told AP. |
| "She has the aptitude to be drum corps queen... she has a seriousness inside of her when she is on stage." | "She has the aptitude to be drum corps queen... she has a seriousness inside of her when she is on stage." |
| A family court in Rio is expected to rule this week on whether she can take the role. Carnival events will run from 13 to 16 February. | A family court in Rio is expected to rule this week on whether she can take the role. Carnival events will run from 13 to 16 February. |