CONTROVERSY | must also carry a dress with long sleeves Hamas imposes the Islamic headscarf at university students of Gaza

The decision of the Islamist movement Hamas which rules Gaza, to impose the headscarf for women in the public University of Al Aqsa has angered the students less conservative and has generated controversy among the population. The school council announced last week the mandatory uniform for women , which includes the dress with long sleeves and veil, raising criticism from more liberal students, who have accused the university of Hamas executing instructions to Islamize Palestinian Gaza. The decision of the university authorities is, according Jitam, art student of 21 years, "a serious intervention in personal affairs represents religious fanaticism." Other students believe that the new policy is intended to try to prevent rebellion among youth. "College is not just for Muslims, there are Christians in the Gaza Strip , "said the girl, who alleged that security agents of the university" look strangely to the girls and misbehave when entering prevent one that does not carry the Islamic uniform ".

A further attempt to Islamize society

Hamas has repeatedly sought to impose the headscarf to the lawyerswhen they go to court and high schools, as well as prevent men and women from mixing in public. Has also forbidden women's smoking 'shisha' or 'hukka' (water pipe) in coffee shops and other places. Although the organization has reiterated that it will not impose the sharia (Islamic law) by force in the coastal enclave, these regulations and other activities such as the launch of the "Campaign Islamic Virtue" , show otherwise. "When someone hears Al Aqsa University wants its students Muslim women wear a uniform, outsiders immediately think that what happens is that wear short clothes and sexy", even though the students actually dress form " modest "and 95% cover their heads , said Khalil Abu Shamalleh, NGO Al Dameer. Gazan society "has been traditional long before Hamas took control of the territory," he adds.

Social and political implications

In the West Bank, Hanan Ashrawi , member of the Executive Committee of the Organization for the Liberation of Palestine (PLO), condemned the new university regulations. "The decision has dangerous social and political implications that could seriously damage the social fabric in the Gaza Strip and in Palestinian society in general, "he said in a statement the leader, who believes that this is a sign of political crisis and social situation in the Palestinian enclave. Moreover, according to human rights activists, the decision contradicts own internal rules of the university. "It's a public university, which belongs to the Ministry of Higher Education, and the private sector", so you can not impose a dress code Islamic estimated Jamil Serhan , the NGO Human Rights Corporation. It is also "a violation of human rights and the rights of personal liberty of the individual , "said Serhan, who believes that the university authorities should immediately cancel the standard personal freedom and respect of his students. Political analyst Talal Oukal believes that with this change, Hamas takes another step in its attempt to Islamize society gradually and not all at once, to avoid facing resistance from the population. "The imposition of Islamic uniform in students of Al Aqsa will gradually, as they have been doing in all schools under the pretext that students' rights are not violated," he says. The five years of blockade imposed on Gaza by Israel with the support of Egypt have increased unemployment and poverty among its 1.7 million inhabitants, a factor that, according to experts, is helping to make the company more conservative.