Gaza's Islamist rulers hounding secular community

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip -- After nearly four years of Hamas rule, the Gaza Strip's small secular community is in tatters, decimated by the militant group's campaign to impose its strict version of Islam in the coastal territory.

Hamas has bullied men and women to dress modestly, tried to keep the sexes from mingling in public and sparked a flight of secular university students and educated professionals. Most recently, it has confiscated novels it deems offensive to Islam from a bookshop and banned Gaza's handful of male hairdressers from styling women's hair.

The Hamas push toward religious fundamentalism is especially striking at a time of great change in the Middle East. With the Iranian-backed group firmly entrenched in power, Gaza seems unlikely to experience the type of pro-democracy unrest that has swept through much of the region.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/02/25/AR2011022500824.html

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Though one of the few things that Israel and Hamas would agree on is a reluctance to have Gazans start acting on their own behalf and engaging in massive protests.

But Israel are not telling Hamas to establish Islamic law!

'Women and children don't fight back, so that makes it easier, doesn't it?'

Actually no. Nowadays, women and (older) children frequently *do* fight back - in Israel and in Gaza and in many places of the world.

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Just in case! And if it turned out to be a "mistake", no worries, there are more. One of the more memorable quotes that was seared into my brain by one of those bastards who justify any action against those whom they hate was said and repeated right here on DU by a "progressive".

"There's no such thing as Palestinian civilians."

No not you. Someone far worse. Someone who has decided that giving up your humanity was a small price to pay to feed your hatred. :thumbsdown:

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Israel would love to see the people of Gaza rise up against Hamas and replace them with a secular (and presumably less hostile to Israel's existence) alternative.

The article indicates it's Iran's influence here and their support of Hamas that is (in part) preventing the Palestinian people from the rising up against Hamas.

I wouldn't however rule out pro-democracy unrest in Gaza. It wasn't expected in most of the places where it's happened.

And always to their own people.

:sarcasm:

Hamas seems keen on making sure that does not happen any time soon.

It's been over five years now.

They are being used as proxies by others