No dancing and no gays if Hamas gets its way

[ruggerson]

Is it not devastatingly clear that fundamentalist Islam is merely the flip side of fundamentalist rightwing Christianity in this country?

It is the exact same thing, with different hair and different clothes.


http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,251-1814968,00.html

A VISION of an Islamic society that bans mixed dancing and sternly disapproves of homosexuality has been given by Mahmoud Zahar, the most senior leader of Hamas in Gaza.

After controversies when a Hamas-led council halted a dance festival and Islamist gunmen stopped a rap band performing in Gaza, Dr Zahar defended the enforcement of a strict interpretation of Islam.

“A man holds a woman by the hand and dances with her in front of everyone. Does that serve the national interest?” Dr Zahar said on the Arabic website Elaph. “If so, why have the phenomena of corruption and prostitution become pervasive in recent years?”

Because of successes by Hamas in municipal polls and its likely strong showing in January’s parliamentary elections, secular Palestinians fear that it will try to impose its ultraconservative vision on them. Its Gaza heartland has no cinemas or bars, yet the West Bank has a brewery and Ramallah restaurants serve wine.

[aquart]

1. Ah, the land of their dreams.

Nothing like Israel. And their very own Taliban.

[atommom]

2. Given the choice between political corruption and dancing-in-the-

streets corruption, I'd take the latter any day.

[TallahasseeGrannie]

3. I see the similarity

but I don't think your everyday Southern Baptist has the chutzpah the Islamacists have. Yet. I think our system has spread oil on the water effectively. And I think it will continue, particularly once we get rid of the goons in the WH now.

[brentspeak]

19. Every time there's a post on DU about loony Islamacists

somebody feels the need to post an "equalizing" response "pointing out" how American Christians are practically just like the Jihadists.

Yes, there are some American Christians who are loony-tunes (examples: Fred Phelps; to a lesser extent, the Pat Robertsons and Jerry Falwells). Needless to say, they are the minority.

The difference between the U.S. and "over there"? Our religious wackos are aberrants and mostly just full of talk; their religious wackos are commonplace, usually state-sponsored, and actually get to enforce their views (and punishments) on others.

BTW, Bill Clinton is a Southern Baptist.

[TomInTib]

4. Hell, they sound like Baptists n/t

[NaturalHigh]

7. Uh, I'm a Baptist...

and I'm nothing like Hamas. Ignorant comments like that are why so many people see this board and Democrats in general as being hostile to religion.

[ruggerson]

8. If people didn't misuse religion

to kill, maim, bash, oppress and otherwise make miserable the lives of others, then there wouldn't be much anti religious feeling.

Don't blame the folks who are the target. Blame the folks with the sharp knives.

[NaturalHigh]

11. So sweeping statements comparing Baptists

to terrorists are OK? If someone made such a statement about Muslims, he or she would probably be banned within minutes.

[ruggerson]

12. The anger is due to actual persecution

If we all band together to stop the persecution, the anger and "sweeping statements" will subside.

And painting persecutors and bigots with too broad a brush, as a reaction, while offensive to some, pales in comparison to the actual actions of the persecutors and bigots themselves.

[NaturalHigh]

14. Fine, label all who profess to a religious faith bigots...

then wonder why Democrats can't get the votes of people of that faith.

[ruggerson]

16. I don't think rightwing religious fundamentalist Christians

are "everybody" with religious faith. Unless I missed something.

In fact, I think a lot of religious people disagree with them.

And the guy who wrote "Baptists" was clearly joking. ALthough, strict southern Baptists have been known not to like dancing nor gay people, no?

[NaturalHigh]

17. Please see my post #13.

Jokes about Baptists are apparently acceptable, but jokes about many other faiths would most certainly not be. Also, not all Baptists are fundamentalists, contrary to what you might have heard.

[brentspeak]

20. The jokes and general disdain about Christians (and Red States) on DU

annoy me to no end. A lot of good Democrats have gotten fed up and taken their posting elsewhere because of it. Occasionally, (and I'm not accusing the people on this particular thread) disruptors from the other side have capitalized on this to cause division here at DU.

[TomInTib]

10. That was a joke, lighten up

Growing up Baptist I always wondered why we seemed to be so sensitive when we heard jokes about our religion.
I still wonder.

Why does Baylor forbid their students to "frolic" while standing?

Someone might see them and think they're dancing.

That, too, is a joke.

No offense intended.

[NaturalHigh]

13. "That, too, is a joke."

Try making a joke about Muslims on this board and see how well it goes over. Why is it acceptable to slam one religion and not another?

Do you ever pay attention to the good works that Baptists do? Did you know that the Baptist Relief Fund is the third largest relief organization in the US? Do you have any idea how much money Baptists contributed to hurricane relief funds? Yeah, we're really bad apples. :sarcasm:

[TomInTib]

15. I know all that. I am a Baptist.

I just don't know any good Muslim jokes.

[barb162]

29. bwa

[barb162]

31. I never heard any Baptist or any other religion jokes

[barb162]

30. you're quite right

and then they often take their votes elsewhere too

[sarcasmo]

5. Banned lap dances in Seattle. The Christian Taliban must love this story.

Would someone explain to me how you could be Christian and Gay? With all of the Gay bashing the Christian right had done lately.

[barb162]

34. Cheney's daughter

[UncleSepp]

40. Christian Right does not equal Christian

If the basic tenet of Christianity is that Jesus Christ, the son of God, was sent by His Father and born flesh to redeem us all of our sins, that he was crucified, died, and was buried, and that three days later He rose from the dead and ascended to Heaven, and that all you need to be in order to be a Christian is to believe that, then yes, it's perfectly possible to be gay and Christian. The core of Christian belief has nothing to do with who puts whose bits where.

I think that people who do not have strong religious beliefs have trouble understanding sometimes the profund nature of the experience of living in a world that has a God in it. One does not lightly turn away from the Holy One of All Being because one of His/Her/Their followers pisses you off. Furthermore, Christianity contains within it references to having one's faith tested, by persecution, by deprivation, and by being faced in life with choices where the easy path leads away from God and the hard one leads toward God. To be gay and Christian at this time would be very difficult, but that's exactly why a Christian who is gay would keep on being Christian. Being Christian is not supposed to be easy.

FWIW, I am not a Christian, but I have respect for people with religious and/or spiritual beliefs and also for those who do not have religous beliefs.

[manic expression]

41. And Islamic fundamentalist does not equal Islam n/t

[sweetheart]

6. And why one should avoid gaza in future

It seems that the new travel guides should explain to tourists that
patriarchal fundamentalist nations are bad for the health and best
avoided. Bush is a proud member of Hamas, and he's proud of the
results!

[Skip Intro]

9. It IS the same thing - they ARE the same in many ways. Fear and force are

among their favorite tools.

Only Repression can make their Oppression real.

And its real.

[merwin]

18. Moving to proper forum

[barb162]

21. No dancing and no gays if Hamas gets its way

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,251-1814968,00.html

No dancing and no gays if Hamas gets its way
By Stephen Farrell



A VISION of an Islamic society that bans mixed dancing and sternly disapproves of homosexuality has been given by Mahmoud Zahar, the most senior leader of Hamas in Gaza.

After controversies when a Hamas-led council halted a dance festival and Islamist gunmen stopped a rap band performing in Gaza, Dr Zahar defended the enforcement of a strict interpretation of Islam.



“A man holds a woman by the hand and dances with her in front of everyone. Does that serve the national interest?” Dr Zahar said on the Arabic website Elaph. “If so, why have the phenomena of corruption and prostitution become pervasive in recent years?”

Because of successes by Hamas in municipal polls and its likely strong showing in January’s parliamentary elections, secular Palestinians fear that it will try to impose its ultraconservative vision on them. Its Gaza heartland has no cinemas or bars, yet the West Bank has a brewery and Ramallah restaurants serve wine.

snip

[Tom Joad]

22. And if Israeli gets its way....

Nothing but bombs, bullets, bulldozers, all sent courtesy of Uncle Sam.

[Jim Sagle]

25. Whadda buncha shit.

[Tom Joad]

35. Thanks for the insightful response.

Certainly gives me something to think about.

[Jim Sagle]

38. I try.

[barb162]

28. I think not

[Psephos]

32. Israel moved out of Gaza; Hamas is moving in

Which makes Hamas' attitudes, and not Israel's, the only relevancy here.

Peace.

[manic expression]

42. Palestinians in Gaza

are squatters. They do not control the water, they do not control the airspace (which means everyone's favorite ethnic cleanser, IDF, can bomb with impunity), they control NONE of the borders (not even to Egypt). Israelis were so disrespectful they destroyed their homes rather than have "those people" live in them.

Israel's actions are COMPLETELY relevant here.

[Andromeda]

36. Pshhhhhhhhh...

:thumbsdown::thumbsdown::thumbsdown::thumbsdown::thumbsdown::thumbsdown:

[pelsar]

39. almost relevant...

i would add that if the Argentenains get their way, the falklans will have a name change

[manic expression]

43. Agreed

and Israel has been getting its way that way for quite a long time.

[pelsar]

44. hamas.....

if hamas gets their fundamentalist society.....i guess all those people who are screaming for the palestenains civil rights...will get real quiet..all those caring internationals will quietly leave....and leave the palesteanians to a society of extremists

and they will declare with their liberal hearts...well its an internal matter.....and the terror they will know will be far worse than anything israel has ever done...actually given that in the last year more palestenains have been excuted by fellow palestenains (anybody protesting?) than israel has killed, i would guess the process has started...anybody care?

[manic expression]

45. Keep your generalizations to yourself

This is about Palestinians having control of their own land and future. This is about ending oppression.

However, the fact is that this is one person from Hamas voicing his opinion. Do you think this is characteristic of Palestine itself? I think it is not.

Try letting Palestinians have their own country, their freedom and their destiny. That is all you should do.

Please, I would love to see those stats on Palestinian execution of Palestinians (something from an actually reliable source, by the way).

[pelsar]

46. oppression?

ok so from the "liberal progressive" point of view...whats preferable opression (like iran) where the govt is run by theocracy, where homosexuals and loud mouthed girls can be hung? but the "people control the land"

or being controlled by a foreign power that allows within its limits (pre intifada I) civil rights, etc, while providing for physical security?

my "generalizations about hamas..is hardly a "generalization. Hamas won the municple elections in in Quaqilia..and have already started makinga mini iran.

the stats came from ha aretz, i think last weekend...but its not really surprising giving the last weeks of fracticide within Gaza

letting the palestenians have their own country sounds great in theory...practically it took them a day to launch over 40 missles into israel....whats next on their list of "neighborly relations?"....lets just see if they manage to make something out of gaza first....another failed state wont do the palestenains much good..no matter how much the liberals in the states will feel good about themselves (as palestine erupts into a civil war.....)

[manic expression]

47. Yeah, oppression

from the liberal view, Israel's actions are far worse than deplorable.

I would like to remind you that it was the US' support of the Shah and toppling of the democratic in Iran government which led to the theocracy. I would also like to remind you that the US actively supports Saudi Arabia, which is not the foremost country in regards to women's rights. Are you noticing something? You should be.

The fact is that Hamas can run in elections if it wishes to, but it is not as popular as you say, and here are facts to back it up:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/israel/Story/0,2763,1582409,00.html

Also, please provide evidence that they are "starting to make a mini-Iran".

I'd also love to hear your thoughts on this:
"The raids also targeted welfare groups associated with Hamas which have helped the organization build popular political support. The army closed the offices of the Islamic Charitable Society in several villages and took away equipment."
http://www.guardian.co.uk/israel/Story/0,2763,1581455,00.html

I hope you feel good about being an imperialist. "'They' can't rule themselves, 'WE' are only capable of doing that!"...echoes of so many other base political views. Palestine has a right to rule itself. You cannot change this, no matter how much you insult them. It took Israel NO TIME to continue its oppression of Palestinians by keeping its unjustified control over Gaza and its inhabitants. They are showing absolutely no interest in changing their base actions.

[pelsar]

48. hamas.....

hamas in power....not very "liberal" ...the evidence:

The acting Mayor, who's also a Hamas member, has banned a popular Palestinian festival because it supposedly violates Islamic values. He's told AM that the festival encourages young men and women to mix, and possibly even dance together

http://www.abc.net.au/am/content/2005/s1408024.htm

sounds like the start of a mini iran to me....or for a "progressive liberal"..canceling celebrations is "ok" and you support fanatics to be able to run in elections and when they win, they can oppress the people? (we have a prime example happening right now...)...and you support them?...how?
_________________________

as far as whether or not the palestenains can rule themselves in a modern civilized method...i dont know..and neither do you. Their immediate track record so far, does not look very encouraging....40 missles into israel is not a good first step...its was a very dumb one.

and i dont have to be so niave as to believe that all people at all times can develop a modern govt....i.e. sudan, nigeria, etc . they may have the "right" to rule themselves...but not at our expense......57 years of continual attacks and threats against us gives us the right to demand to see some proof first....and so far they're not doing a very good job.

maybe they should stop kidnapping the foreign journalists?.....or killing PA officials?...those would be good solid first steps.

________________________

as far as the IDF... I dont always agree with what they do..however the hamas doesnt have a seperation between political and military activities...they dont wear different uniforms, in fact they dont wear any uniforms so its pretty difficult to know which of the operatives is doing what at any given time.....you would know?

[manic expression]

50. One person

does not an Iran make.

You clearly believe that Palestinians are not capable of ruling themselves in a "civilized" manner. I cannot express the insanity of such a statement.

Those attacks now represent the Palestinian people (even the committee of other militant groups denounced them)? What in the world are you thinking? Hamas even said they were halting attacks, and Israel continued its assaults on schools and homes and civilians.

Israel murders nationals who are trying to observe and report atrocities. If they don't kill them, they'll just beat them. This has happened to people I know.

So IDF should just kill 'em all because you can't tell the difference. Echoes of the old GI saying in Vietnam: "If they run, they're VC; if they don't run, they're well-trained VC...shoot 'em anyway."

:puke:

[pelsar]

51. Qaqilya...the town is run by hamas..the whole council is hamas

they have disallowed the traditional festivals.....what is hard to understand?

since you support hamas in running for elections, i assume you support them when the win?

which means your a "liberal progressive that supports theorcracies?

_______________________________________________

i have no idea if the palestenains can rule themselves in a manner that does not include attacking us..neither do you....their track record however is not very good.

you say ..give them a state now...well what if your wrong? and they fail...what then? (i have to live with those consequences hence i'm a bit more cautious.)

__________________________

as far as kill'em all....we obviously dont do that...or i would have opened up on the palestenains when their waiting in line killing thousands....we do our best not to kill those not involved...but if you hide among civilians, wear civilian clothes.....there is little we can do....tell them to wear uniforms, have their military camps away from civilians....the civilian deaths that we cause will go down dramatically..

and finally: hamas did declare a "cease fire" again..after they fired 40 missles into israeli cities and villages trying to kill as many civilians as possible...great strategy: shoot and scream "cease fire cease fire"....you've got to be kidding!! excuse us if we dont buy into that

[manic expression]

52. Again...

you make a gross generalization.

Concentrate on injustice such as this:
"On Wednesday I travelled to Qaqilya to a demonstration against the Aparteid Wall. This wall is reported by the majority of the media to be a security fence, a fence that in places it is an 8m high concrete wall? The wall separates Palestinians from their families, from their farmland, it creates ghettos out of Palestinian villages, towns and cities. Qaqilya is one such city that is being surrounded by the wall, shutting off the population inside from the rest of Palestine, from their land, their families their lives."
http://www.indycymru.org.uk/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=264&mode=thread&order=0

Here's another real look at this area:
http://www.palestinecampaign.org/features.asp?d=y&ID=478

I am a person who supports a people's right to self-determination. Anyone who opposes that idea is at best an authoritarian imperialist.

You are clearly prejudiced against Palestinians and their right to independence. You spew nonsense about their "track record", even though Israel continuously oppresses an entire people and commits countless atrocities. You remind me of the most insipid (and bigoted) Westerners in the 19th and early 20th centuries who thought that Africans and other races were not fit to rule themselves.

Actually, you do murder quite a bit of innocents. Snipers target children:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,,1516268,00.html

And so many civilians have had their lives brutally and wrongly destroyed - either through the theft of land and livlihood or through killing.

And again, Hamas stopped their actions, and then Israel attacked MORE targets mere hours after the announcement (targets which include SCHOOLS AND HOMES). That ceases to be "defence", that is outright aggression.

[pelsar]

53. a gross generalization?...

heres your hamas when it gets a chance to govern:...the people you support:

http://www.freemuse.org/sw10095.asp

and even when they dont govern...they still manage to keep music away:

http://www.middle-east-online.com/english/culture/?id=14543=14543&format=0


this is the hamas....and you seem to believe that they should be given the chance to govern and suppress the palesteanins.....they govern just as they said they would....a govenment based on their version of the koran.....and if they win in gaza, as they did in kakilya....i assume you will be satisfied that the palestenians are now be oppressed by their own?

you claim:
"I am a person who supports a people's right to self-determination"...yet you support hamas.....who support and follow through with religious oppression...how does one do that?

..and before you start with the "generalization"...hamas runs kakilia now..its mayor and councilman...and they were elected..not much to generalize...and they stopped a traditional concert for islamic reasons-pretty black and white.Support hamas, support religous facism.. so far, they do stand true to what they say....oh yea, they also mentioned that their goal is the destruction of israel

and that little detail about hamas putting out a press release about stopping the shooting into israel.....you know after we returned fire .....then who shot those mortors? afterwards?...anyway its irrelevant....shooting and them claiming "cease fire cease fire"...maybe good for PR, but were not so niave....thats similar to using schools and homes as military bases then complaining when we bomb them...good for PR, but thats about it.

[Name removed]

54. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[pelsar]

55. try this...

As a Hamas-led town council in the West Bank bans outdoor music and dance performances in order to prevent “the mingling of the sexes”, musicians fear that Palestine is liable to be turned into an Islamic-law state.


Music causes controversies all over the muslim world where religious radicals wishes it banned and silenced. In Afghanistan, the Talibans enforced harsh religious laws against music and concerts during their rule of of the country. Now, Palestinian musicians fear the same thing is going to happen in Palestine where Islamic fundamentalists have become increasingly assertive since the militant Hamas group scored several victories and political gains in local elections in the beginning of 2005.

The summer of 2005 saw an example of this development as the outdoor music and dance performances which were planned as part of a one-day summertime Palestinian festival in Qalqiliya were suddenly banned by the municipality, for the reason that such an event would be "haram" - forbidden by Islam.

"The town council must protect the conservative values of the city, which includes not approving of men and women mixing," explained a Qalqilya council spokesman, according to BBC News. The Qalqilyah municipality, which is headed by a member of Hamas, also ordered that music no longer be played in the city's zoo, and mufti Akrameh Sabri issued a religious edict affirming the municipality decision.

http://www.freemuse.org/sw10095.asp

whats not hard to understand?....so your all for electing religious facists in to power? until their voted out..if thats possible. I believe that wasnt an option during the taliban rule nor was it an option in iran

and you support those kind of governments?....how do such govts support the freedom of the individual...who may for example want to walk down the street and hear some rap music on his radio?....i assume if the council is hamas, you would support the 20 lashes? or the stoning that the local laws might provide for?

look for: Qalqilya and look for music festivals... (they also turned off the water fountains for the same reason)

[manic expression]

56. Try the truth...

The fact is that if Palestinians elect officials that are in favor of those policies, that is their choice. If you want to ridicule them, fine, but know that it is their right to elect their representatives. If they don't like them, they can elect others. Hamas lost ground in the newest elections, so don't tell me those "islamfacists" (?) are banning that, too.

Music causes controversies all over the ENTIRE WORLD. Do you even know how big the campaign against "vulgar" music is in America? It is very big and quite powerful, and music is being attacked more than ever.

What about this?
"The conductor Sir Simon Rattle provoked controversy by performing Beethoven's Ninth Symphony in Israel. Jewish conductor Daniel Barenboim has also done a great deal to make German classical music acceptable in Israel, but caused controversy on July 7th 2001 by conducting Wagner in Jerusalem."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Censorship_of_music

:eyes:

I am for Palestinians being able to elect those they agree with. It is not my place to tell them what to think. And they CAN elect them out, any suggestion of the otherwise is more than false.

It WAS an option in Iran, before Uncle Sam deposed the Prime Minister and installed the Shah for America's ugly goals.

And I believe it is the choice of the people to decide their own laws, not yours. The sooner you get that through your head, the better.

I support Palestinians' ability to be represented. It's called democracy, get used to it.

WOW! LOOK AT ALL THESE SOURCES!
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=Qalqilya+music+festivals&btnG=Google+Search

[pelsar]

57. so...you dont support individual civil rights?

maybe you can clear this (stay on topic)...

iran as an example:...
do you support the present govt which has been re-elected or the students who are getting beat up in the streets, the homosexuals and loud mouth girls who are being hung etc?

In qaquily if the local policeman finds a kid (15yr old who never voted) listening to the "wrong' kind of music... and the local laws were enacted similar to the taliban (which has strong similarities to hamas)

..... was found not to conform with Taleban regulations were beaten, often with metal cables. Other social regulations, such as prohibitions on playing cards and listening to music, were similarly enforced

http://web.amnesty.org/web/ar2002.nsf/asa/afghanistan?Open

you would support the local hamas govt to whip the kid (for example)...did i get that right?

govt laws or peoples civil rights?..which one?


btw...quantity of links in google has nothing to do with facts on the ground...just because something doesnt have 2 million links in a computer search engine hardly means its not happening ...i've seen millions of events that wont show up in google (weird sense of reality you have there...if its not in google in quantity it doesnt count?)

you have to work on your comparisons better: your comparing an controversy about music in israel vs an outright ban on music through religious rulings........

[manic expression]

58. Nice strawman

a classic example of insipid pro-Israeli arguments: putting words in other people's mouths.

Nice try.

In Palestine, the people can elect Hamas out. As long as this is the case, it is their choice who they elect and what policies they enforce. I support their right to representation 100%. If you oppose it, you are, in effect, opposing a people's right to choose the policies in their country, which is wrong. You expose your own foolish beliefs: you do not think Palestinians should have the ability to rule themselves. How does it feel to be an imperialist?

Even more stellar evidence!:
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&q=Qaquily&btnG=Search

Your arguments are as baseless as they are reactionary.

:rofl:...so I guess the fact that there is NO internet evidence on something means nothing? That search produced a link from "Little Green Footballs"...do you even know the levels of insanity there? It also included some other sites with no validity or integrity. My other search produced NO sources (count 'em: ZERO). What that means is that your assertions have no basis in reality. That means that you have no sense of reality. Have you been to the places you've been talking about? If the TRUTH doesn't support your claims, try forming new opinions.

The fact is that mere music causes controversy in Israel, while you insult Palestinians for doing the same (even though there is little evidence to show for it).

[pelsar]

59. some evidence...bbc good enough for you?

lets start with the first: (took me 10 seconds to find these....) you spelled Qalqiliya wrong
seems your very busy trying to NOT to find the evidence...facing the facts is the first step toward understanding a situation...not "closing ones eyes"

http://discardedlies.com/entries/2005/07/short_multiple_choice_question_extra_credit.php

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/4641765.stm

http://www.freemuse.org/sw10095.asp

now that we've established that the Hamas led council has banned a music festival..and a rap concert in gaza

September 14, a Palestinian rap concert in Gaza was broken up by Hamas teenagers throwing rocks and shooting Kalashnikovs.

http://www.chicagoflame.com/media/paper519/news/2005/10/10/Opinions/Hamas.Terrorist.Destroy.Political.Improvement-1014572.shtml

___________________________________________

the question you've avoided is: who has more rights..the local govt or the individual. So far as far as i understand you are saying since hamas has been voted in, they now have the right to trample individual civil rights..such as listening to music...and having a festival where the "sexs can mingle....and this you support?

if i can expand this to a wider govt (assuming hamas get gaza)..will you also support the wider hamas agenda which mimics iran and the taliban?

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,251-1814968,00.html

Hamas has a strong reputation for delivering on their promises ....this is a very real scenario...just expanding upon your beliefs...or correct me if i am wrong....and if i am wrong...what part?

_______________________________________________________
another one...the type of govt you seem to be willing to support: (supporting the music ban...)

http://www.ezilon.com/information/article_11098.shtml

http://news.independent.co.uk/world/middle_east/article317788.ece

If Hamas were to win control of the Palestinian Authority in coming elections, it would ban men and women from dancing together and deny specific rights to gay people, according to Mahmoud Zahar, the faction's leader in Gaza.

Dr Zahar is quoted on the Arabic language Ilaf website as suggesting that a Hamas-run Palestinian state would gradually outlaw co-operation with Israel.

Predicting that under Hamas any Palestinian state would be a strictly Islamic one, Dr Zahar praised the Hamas-controlled city council in Qalkilya for having stopped a party at which there was mixed dancing.
He said: "A man holds a woman by the hand and dances in front of everyone. Does that serve the national problem? If so, why have corruption and prostitution become pervasive?

[pelsar]

49. so your a hamas supporter...

if they should be able to run in elections and get elected with their platform...which is now being seen in qaquilia..you support this...religious theorcracy and its lack of civil rights etc?

did get that right?

[GrpCaptMandrake]

23. Um, er, wait a minute . . .

If *mixed* dancing is out, then *homo* dancing is "in?" But being gay is bad? But doing hetero stuff is worse?

Oh, I'm thinking the club scene in Gaza is going to be VERY confusing!

:rofl:

[barb162]

26. Um

your little yellow faced man laughing is good here

[IntravenousDemilo]

24. So, probably no productions of "A Chorus Line" or "La Cage aux Folles'? nm

[barb162]

27. no bird cage stuff

[Centered]

33. Aren't these the same guys who go buck wild

with American Infidel Hookers when they are on business trips to the US?

[Andromeda]

37. Yes, as a matter of fact....

this is before they blow themselves up (and whomever happens to be near them) so they can go to paradise and hook up with 72 virgins.