Story By: Feza Uzay, Sub-Editor: Marija Stojkoska, Agency:  Newsflash

Outrage Turkish Twitter users have compared the male contestants of a national beauty competition to slaves and Guantanamo Bay prisoners.

Controversial photos of a beauty show called ‘Best Model of Turkey’ prompted Turkish Twitter users to claim the male models resemble market slaves.

Additionally, some users said the models appear to look like Guantanamo Bay detention camp prisoners.

The photos show the 2021 final contestants kneeling on the floor in black swimwear while waiting for the judges’ decision.

In the past, the Ottoman Empire (also known as the Turkish Empire) traded slaves in special marketplaces called ‘Esir’ or ‘Yesir’ that were located in most towns and cities in the mid-14th century.

According to online sources, Sultan Mehmed II ‘the Conqueror’ established the first Ottoman slave market in Constantinople (today’s Istanbul) in the 1460s.

Some Twitter users saw a resemblance between the two and made controversial ‘slave’ analogies regarding the countries best models.

The comparison and images went viral as more and more netizens expressed their shock and criticised the men’s sitting position.

Twitter user ‘Fikri Akyuz’ wrote: “No to slavery, including one that is voluntary.”

‘Zeki Enes Akkan’ said the models resemble prisoners from the Guantanamo Bay detention camp, sharing the photo with the message: “Best Model of Turkey finals were held in Guantanamo Bay.”

This was the 34th anniversary of the pageant, which dates back to 1988, however male models were not included until 1993.