What would have been Upper Egypt’s first beauty pageant stirred a hornet's nest of controversy this month, outraging local conservatives who said it would spread debauchery and was unsuited to the region’s traditions.

The pageant was scheduled for Oct. 10 in Assiut governorate, where a large gathering of celebrities, fashion designers, beauticians and public figures were expected. Yet the event was canceled that day when hotel officials said organizers hadn’t received proper security clearance — meaning police would not be present in the event of demonstrations.

Given that the organizer received a death threat and warnings that her workplace and the hotel would be set on fire, security was a serious concern. She and the judges were also assailed and threatened on social media.

Assiut governorate, 320 kilometers (200 miles) south of Cairo, is known for its fundamentalist ideas about religion and gender. Women there are often viewed as religious conservatives who all wear black cloaks and veils (hijab) and are less educated than women in Cairo and coastal cities.