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Hamas, the fundamentalist group that controls Gaza, has decided to ban women from smoking hookahs (traditional Middle Eastern water pipes) in cafes, partially out of fear that this leads to dissolution of marriages (the government claims that some men have divorced their wives after seeing them smoking and sitting cross-legged). This has angered many male and female residents who have few available leisure activities due to the blockade of Gaza by both Egypt and Israel. Hamas has also been cracking down on all sorts of pastimes, forbidding women from riding motorcycles and often routinely stopping couples and beating them if they fail to produce marriage licenses. While many in this relatively conservative Muslim area have supported the new morality initiatives, those in the secular minority have felt that they are extremely unfair.
The more conservative countries in the Middle East also frown upon hookah smoking, with Saudi Arabia imposing a total ban for both men and women. However, Israel’s more immediate neighbors …
… (Syria, Lebanon and Jordan), which are somewhat more secular, allow women and men to smoke hookahs together. Many of the woman affected by the ban have no problems with not smoking openly in public with other men, but they claim that most of the smoking occurs behind closed doors in private cafes and clubs, which are often intentionally sex-segregated to avoid the wrath of the plain-clothed “morality police.” Those that do currently smoke argue that the ban will only make hookahs more desirable as they will be seen as taboo and thus especially appealing to young women who want to rebel against their repressive parents (indeed, this would seem likely as their is also growing demand for hip-hop music and other forbidden items from Western culture). Despite all of the negative press the ban is getting, the Hamas interior ministry has said that they are not trying to make Gaza into an Islamic theocracy:
“If we wanted to make Gaza like the Taliban, then we could have done that very easily.”
Interesting.
What do you think? Is this really an anti-divorce measure or are these erosions of freedom really a slippery slope towards an “Islamic republic?” Will we see more initiatives like Iran’s recent attempts to stop outlandish male hairstyles and make sure women veil themselves properly?
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Hamas, Taliban…wait, is there a difference? I’m confused.
In my opinion, this is just a few hyper religious people attempting to impose their will. If the people fight it – the Hamas will back down.
I personally have smoked the hookah in Egypt, Kuwait, Qatar, and the UAE. I have smoked them in restaurants where I was seated with men and women – no segregation. The only place that I felt uncomfortable was at a very highly rated restaurant in Cairo – but I think that was more because I watched the waiter puff on the hookah to get it started – then carefully wipe the mouthpiece under his arm :(
lol yeah like the Palestinian people are gonna do anything but fanatically support Hamas
I don’t think so. Look what happened when the citizens of Iran tried to stand up to the oppressive regime. Hamas will not back down and in fact, would likely only get tougher if the people relented. They would have the backing of Saudi Arabia as well as Iran in order to put a stranglehold on the citizens. These people don’t know how to rationalize or how to be fair – why would they? They claim they are merely exerting the power of Allah. It’s all crap. They only way these people will get out from under thier thumb is to simply leave.
Blah?
Really?
Where are you getting this insight? The only things these countries share is a religion – and that is very loosely shared – and the Arabic culture.
You can compare the Hamas, Shia, Sunnis, etc to any other religion and it’s sects. A comparison would be to look at Southern Baptists compared to Mormons, Catholics, Unitarians, etc. Same basic religion – worlds away in how it is practiced.
And sorry, but you are wrong. It has happened before in Gaza. The people speak up – the matter is quietly dropped.
You need to re-examine your statement “They only way these people will get out from under thier thumb is to simply leave.”
This is THEIR home. THEIR country. Do you understand this? Do you also understand that they are blockaded in by Israel (who was quite free with dropping white sulfur onto innocent civilians – kids included) and Egypt.
For the uninitiated, white sulfur is a material that is used in say – dropping onto a tank in warfare. It will burn through the metal on a tank in a minute or so The use of against people is absolutely forbidden under the Geneva Convention, yet Israel was given a pass when they dropped it into the crowded streets in Palestine. This is particularly horrific when you realize that there is little in the way of medical care available. Why is this?
Allow me the opportunity to educate you – just a tad. I’m posting a link to an Israeli newspaper. Read it and weep.
No, really. Weep.
http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/opinion/was-israel-s-gaza-offensive-worth-it-1.1338
Correction – Hamas is not a relifious sect! ugh need. more. coffee…
So I read the article. It struck me that Israel really is like a mini-US, but where their citizens carry around AKs on a regular basis.
That was an interesting link. I did get to know an Iranian family that had moved here during the 70’s,after the shah was over thrown. They loved their homeland,hoped to visit some day,didn’t want to return until the mullahs left power.
Do you mean white phosphorous?
I apologize.
Yes, you are correct. I can’t seem to think and type at the same time today.
When did this become an Israeli – Palestinian discussion? You brought that up. I don’t think Israel is innocent AT ALL, but really, what does it have to do with Hamas banning tobacco?
I didn’t mean that Palestinians need to leave thier homeland, I simply meant that a group as powerful as Hamas isn’t going away. If they really want to do whatever they want to, when they want to, it’s not going to be in Palestine and it’s not going to be anytime soon.
It became pertinent because I realized that you had no idea of the actual conditions when you stated that “They only way these people will get out from under their thumb is to simply leave.” I recognized that you were unaware that the Palestinians were blockaded. It is unrealistic to expect these people to “simply leave”.
The Hamas didn’t ban tobacco, they banned women from smoking hookah in public. The Hamas have rescinded other “orders” when the people made their displeasure known. This knowledge is out there, it isn’t a secret.
Lastly, if you bring up Palestine, Israel will be involved in the discussion.
Only if people like you insist on bringing them up.
I’m so glad you seem to know everything that I’m thinking. Why don’t you go ahead and think about what I’d like you to do.
Blah – that is a silly response.
I based my answer to your post purely on what YOU wrote. No one who has a clue would blithely suggest that the Palestinians “simply leave”. And because YOU stated this – it brought Israel into the discussion.
This is simple linear thinking, nothing complex here.
Perhaps you would like me to provide a link which would illuminate each point that I made? I can do that, but I think that you can access Google just as easily as I can.
I don’t want to sound rude, but don’t make off the cuff comments about a subject that you are ill-informed about. I can promise you that someone will cop onto it and gently correct you.
I certainly don’t expect everyone to know everything. This site is actually loaded with some pretty amazing information – not the least of which is the differing views offered by commentators from all over the globe.
Stick around – ZL has a lot to offer. We like opposing views, but we also like informed comments.
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