GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) – A Hamas-run Islamic court in the Gaza Strip has ruled that women need the permission of a male guardian to travel, further limiting traffic in and out of territory blocked by Israel and Egypt . ever since the militant group seized power.
The rollback of women’s rights could trigger a backlash in Gaza at a time when the Palestinians plan to hold elections later this year.It could also bolster Hamas support under its conservative base at a time when it faces criticisms of living conditions in the territory it has ruled since 2007.
The Sharia Judicial Council decision, issued Sunday, says that an unmarried woman should not travel without the consent of her ‘guardian,’ who usually refers to her father or another older male relative. The consent would have to be registered with the court, but the man would not be obliged to accompany the woman on the trip.
The language of the pronunciation strongly implied that a married woman would not be able to travel without her husband’s approval.
The edict also said that a man could be prevented from traveling by his father or grandfather if it caused “serious harm.” But the husband would not have to seek prior approval, and the family member would have to sue to prevent him from traveling.
The ruling resembles the so-called custody laws that have long existed in ultra-conservative Saudi Arabia, where women were treated as minors who needed the consent of a husband, father, or even a son to apply for a passport and travel abroad. to travel. The kingdom released those restrictions in 2019
Hassan al-Jojo, head of the Supreme Judicial Council, told The Associated Press that the ruling was “balanced” and consistent with Islamic and civil laws. He rejected what he called on social media about the edict “ artificial and unwarranted noise. ”
He justified the measure by citing examples where girls had traveled without their parents’ knowledge and husbands had left their wives and children without a breadwinner.
Israel and Egypt have largely sealed Gaza’s borders since Hamas seized power from rival Palestinian forces in 2007. Israel says the restrictions are necessary to isolate the militant group that has waged three wars with Israel and prevent them from acquiring weapons.
The area is home to approximately 2 million Palestinians. All Gazans have to go through a lengthy permit process to travel abroad and rely largely on the Rafah to Egypt crossing, which opens only sporadically. The restrictions make it difficult for people to seek medical care or higher education outside the narrow coastal strip.
The ruling sparked criticism on social media, with many accusing Hamas of rolling back women’s rights, while Saudi Arabia has relaxed restrictions, including by allowing women to drive. The Palestinian People’s Party, a small left-wing group, called on Hamas to reverse the decision.
Zainab al-Ghunaimi, an activist who leads a Gaza-based group dedicated to women’s rights, said the ruling violates the Palestinian Basic Law, which grants equal rights to adults, and means the authorities are “backing down in protecting human rights “.
She noted that the same legal body allows a woman to get married at the age of 16 and obtain travel documents herself.
Hamas has not imposed the harsh interpretation of Islamic law defended by other armed groups, such as the Islamic State group and the Taliban in Afghanistan. But it has taken some limited steps to enforce the area’s conservative morals, including imposing an Islamic dress code on female lawyers and high school students.