Gaza women's group say Hamas law requiring school gender segregation from age 9 is worrisome

Published January 13, 2015

The head of a Palestinian women's group says a new law mandating separate classrooms for boys and girls from age nine is a worrisome sign that Gaza's Islamic militant Hamas ruler are gradually imposing their ultra-conservative practices.

Since seizing Gaza in 2007, Hamas has issued many of rules restricting women's freedoms or requiring them to cover up in long robes and headscarves. If faced with public resistance, Hamas generally refrains from enforcing the rules.

A new education law adopted by the Gaza parliament Monday also bars male teachers from teaching girls.

Gender segregation in schools is widely accepted in conservative Palestinian society.

Gaza women's activist Zeinab al-Ghnaimi said Tuesday that Hamas is "imposing facts on the ground," and she fears the trend toward gender separation will accelerate.

URL

https://www.foxnews.com/world/gaza-womens-group-say-hamas-law-requiring-school-gender-segregation-from-age-9-is-worrisome