The prohibition on women going out without a male guardian is not Hamas’ invention. It’s basic, mainstream Sharia: “The husband may forbid his wife to leave the home…because of the hadith related by Bayhaqi that the Prophet…said, ‘It is not permissible for a woman who believes in Allah and the Last Day to allow someone into her husband’s house if he is opposed, or to go out of it if he is averse” (Reliance of the Traveller m10.4).
“Gaza woman’s plans to study abroad foiled by Hamas ‘guardian’ law,” by Fares Akram, Associated Press, November 5, 2021:
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) — Afaf al-Najar had found a way out of Gaza.
The 19-year-old won a scholarship to study communications in Turkey, secured all the necessary travel documents and even paid $500 to skip the long lines at the Rafah crossing with Egypt.
But when she arrived at the border on Sept. 21 she was turned back — not by Israel or Egypt, which have imposed a 14-year blockade on the Gaza Strip — but because of a male guardianship law enacted by the Islamic militant group Hamas, which rules the territory.
“I honestly broke down,” she said, describing the moment border officials removed her luggage from the bus. “My eyes started pouring, I could not even stand up. They had to bring a chair for me… I felt my dream is being robbed.”…
Hamas has repeatedly demanded the lifting of the blockade. But in February, an Islamic court run by Hamas issued a notice saying that unaccompanied women must get permission from a male “guardian” — a husband, relative, or even a son — to travel outside the territory.
After a backlash led by human rights groups, Hamas authorities amended the ruling to drop the requirement. Instead, it said that a male relative can petition a court to prevent a woman from traveling if it would result in “absolute harm.” Women cannot prevent men from traveling.
Hamas has only taken sporadic steps over the years to impose Sharia, or Islamic law, on already conservative Gaza, and even then has usually backed down in the face of criticism. It does not share the extreme ideology of more radical factions such as the Islamic State group.
But the amended law has remained in effect.
Al-Najar’s father filed a petition, and the court prevented her from traveling so that it could consider it. She lives with her mother, who is separated from her father, and says he cut off all contact with her in May. He could not be reached for comment.
Hamas officials did not respond to repeated requests for comment….
After being turned back at the border, al-Najar appealed to a number of local human rights groups but said they appeared reluctant to assist her, fearing reprisal from Hamas. Eventually, she filed a petition against the ban.
Her father failed to show up at the first hearing, causing it to be postponed. Before it adjourned, the judge asked her why she was going abroad and suggested she could just as easily study in one of Gaza’s universities….
Jean Elizabeth Terry says
Quite the loving father. I am so sorry for women who live in these Muslim countries. I wish American feminists would do something.
Aussie Infidel says
Jean, the Feminist Movement throughout the West has long been infected with Marxists; and they would not offend the Left’s favorite religion.
gravenimage says
I’m an American and I care about women under the Islamic heel, Jean. Not much we can do about it, sadly, besides speaking out. Hamas does not listen to Infidels–women least of all.
bruce D Watt says
MEMRI had an Egyptian TV spokeswomen saying how there needs to be more sex slavery to take the pressure off of married women to service their husbands. They are complicit in all Islamic edicts under threat of death and expulsion from the only society they know.
Mark Spahn (West Seneca, NY) says
“hadith related by Bayhaqi that the Prophet…said, ‘It is not permissible for a woman who believes in Allah and the Last Day to allow someone into her husband’s house if he is opposed, or to go out of it if he is averse” (Reliance of the Traveller m10.4)”
What does this hadith mean? A believing woman must, at her husband’s request, imprison someone in his house?
gravenimage says
No, Mark. It means she has no right to leave her husband’s house (note it is not considered her home) if her husband does not want her to be able to leave.
Mark Spahn (West Seneca, NY) says
Thanks for noting the ambiguity, G.I. I interpreted the wording to mean “it is not permissible for a woman who believes in Allah and the Last Day to allow someone into her husband’s house if he [the husband] is opposed [to that someone entering the house], or [to allow someone] to go out of [her husband’s house] if he [her husband] is averse [to that someone leaving that house]”. I wonder if the original Arabic is also ambiguous.
tgusa says
In non muslim terms that means that she is a prisoner to her husbands proclamations wants and desires. That alone could vary. It also means the husband doesn’t trust the wife. Not really a good way to conduct a rela6tionship, is it?
Wellington says
Just as why any black would willingly be a Muslim considering Islam’s atrocious record on black slavery, starting with Islam’s own reputed Profit (just can’t call the bastard “Prophet), why would any woman of sense and knowledge want to be a damn Muzzie?
Makes no sense, but then mankind in general often makes no sense. Hence Islam’s continued “gateway” to dominating females, definitely the religion ready-made for men who refuse to see women as their equals—and starting with that bastard, one Mohammed by name).
gravenimage says
+1
James Lincoln says
According to the feature article:
“I honestly broke down,” she said, describing the moment border officials removed her luggage from the bus. “My eyes started pouring, I could not even stand up. They had to bring a chair for me… I felt my dream is being robbed.”…
So I wonder what Afaf al-Najar thinks of islam and sharia law now?
gravenimage says
Good question, James. Chances are she would never allow herself to blame Islam for this.
gravenimage says
Gaza woman’s plans to study abroad foiled by Islamic guardian law
……………
Appalling–but orthodox Islam.
More:
Before it adjourned, the judge asked her why she was going abroad and suggested she could just as easily study in one of Gaza’s universities….
……………
Known as the best in the world, of course… sarc/off
Infidel says
Hamas: the Taliban that’s popular in the West, for goodness knows why!
Bruce Watt says
No matter what we want or think can change the fact that as a group most of the women are not individually affected by the Sharia ban and have to approve of it or go against the Koran edicts making them targets as infidels. Would you go against the word of G-d?