Gaza judge tells female lawyers to wear headscarf

[MossadConspiracy]

Gaza judge tells female lawyers to wear headscarf
By IBRAHIM BARZAK and DIAA HADID, Associated Press Writers Ibrahim Barzak And Diaa Hadid, Associated Press Writers 49 mins ago

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip – Gaza's top judge said Sunday that he has ordered female lawyers to wear Muslim headscarves when they appear in court, the latest sign that the Islamic militant group is increasingly imposing its strict interpretation of Islamic law on residents of the coastal strip.

Supreme Court chief justice Abdul-Raouf Halabi said female lawyers will be required to wear a headscarf and a long, dark colored cloak under their billowing black robes when the court returns from its summer recess in September.

Halabi said his order was designed to ensure that women dress in accordance with Islamic law, which requires women to cover up in public, wearing loose garments and only showing their hands and faces.

"Showing a woman's hair is forbidden (in Islam)," the Hamas-appointed Halabi told The Associated Press. "We will not allow people to corrupt morals. This (dress code) will improve work in the courts."

Hamas seized power in Gaza in June 2007 and vowed never to impose its conservative values on others. But it has taken a series of steps in recent months that appear to be aimed at forcing residents to accept its Islamic-oriented social agenda.

Police have pressured store owners to cover scantily clad mannequins, and men relaxing on the beach have been ordered to put more clothes on. One secondary girls' school has made wearing a Muslim headscarf and loose robe a mandatory uniform in the upcoming school year.

The Gaza-based Palestinian Center for Human Rights issued a statement describing the new dress code for female lawyers a "dangerous violation of personal freedoms and women's rights."

The Hamas government formally says it is not imposing Islamic law on the territory's 1.4 million residents. Instead, it says it is simply ensuring that residents behave in line with the territory's own conservative culture.

Most women already wear the headscarf, and life in the Mediterranean strip comes to a complete standstill on Fridays as men gather for communal prayers in mosques.

Subhiya Juma, a female lawyer, said the judge's decision would affect only 10 or so lawyers — since the vast majority of the 150 registered female lawyers already cover their hair.

Juma, who does not wear a headscarf, said the point wasn't the number of women, but that freedoms were being eroded.

"This is dangerous — it's a clear violation of the law, it is taking away our personal freedoms — and by whom? The very person who is meant to defend our freedoms," Juma said.

Print Story: Gaza judge tells female lawyers to wear headscarf - Yahoo! News

[Blue_Phoenix]

Because a government or a culture have the right to tell people what to wear. This sucks.

[roberto]

MossadConspiracy said

Print Story: Gaza judge tells female lawyers to wear headscarf - Yahoo! News

Comments on this will be interesting

[Revert]

I really don't understand the point of this "law". Forcing someone to do something is only making them pay lip service to the Law of Allah, rather than follow it with the best of intentions.

[Foxhole]

MossadConspiracy said

Print Story: Gaza judge tells female lawyers to wear headscarf - Yahoo! News

Militant Islamists imposing their views on others? What a shock!

But Hamas promised that they would not do that ... hmmm ...

Oh, wait a minute. They called it something else. It's not imposing Islamic practice, it's "making sure the residents behave in line with the conservative culture." It's not religion, it's culture. See the difference? Hamas sure does! The fact that the culture reflects so closely the religion is completely immaterial. Different issue. Nothing to worry about.

No reason to suspect that Hamas is a bunch of murderous, deceitful and fanatical thugs who are now starting to show their true face. I don't think they'll be ratcheting this up a single notch from here on out. No question - they're completely satisfied with the headscarves.

No, good people of the Muslim world, you can rest assured that Hamas will continue to be an exemplary organization. Now all we have to do is sit back and watch another glorious episode of "When Militant Islamists Govern".

[Variable]

roberto said

Comments on this will be interesting

What are you expecting people to say?

[MossadConspiracy]

Foxhole said

Militant Islamists imposing their views on others? What a shock!

But Hamas promised that they would not do that ... hmmm ...

Oh, wait a minute. They called it something else. It's not imposing Islamic practice, it's "making sure the residents behave in line with the conservative culture." It's not religion, it's culture. See the difference? Hamas sure does! The fact that the culture reflects so closely the religion is completely immaterial. Different issue. Nothing to worry about.

No reason to suspect that Hamas is a bunch of murderous, deceitful and fanatical thugs who are now starting to show their true face. I don't think they'll be ratcheting this up a single notch from here on out. No question - they're completely satisfied with the headscarves.

No, good people of the Muslim world, you can rest assured that Hamas will continue to be an exemplary organization. Now all we have to do is sit back and watch another glorious episode of "When Militant Islamists Govern".

u always give the same canned comments

[Jamroll]

MossadConspiracy said

u always give the same canned comments

Yeah, I agree. Foxhole needs something new otherwise his ratings will drop because of the boredom factor.

[Foxhole]

Jamroll said

Yeah, I agree. Foxhole needs something new otherwise his ratings will drop because of the boredom factor.

Fine. I'll end every post with a

[Jamroll]

Foxhole said

Fine. I'll end every post with a

That's not going to cut it. These days people want something catchy and new. Maybe try talking about Scientology or something.

[roberto]

Variable said

What are you expecting people to say?

Looking at the pointless comments from MossadConspiracy and jamroll I’ve changed my mind

[Foxhole]

Jamroll said

That's not going to cut it. These days people want something catchy and new. Maybe try talking about Scientology or something.

Oh, no. That's when I become disrespectful.