Gaza: Behead `immodest' women broadcasters
Ron Ross
Bridges for Peace News
Email: ronrossbfp@hotmail.com
7 June, 2007
There is a great deal to consider for those who champion the cause of the `good life' in Palestinian society. This most recent sad but absurd situation is a clear indicator and frightening if you're a woman living in there.
Women broadcasters in Gaza are the latest there to fear for their life. Their fear is not generated by Israel but by the radical Islamist group Righteous Swords of Islam, who has threatened to behead them if they do not wear strict Islamic dress.
Righteous Swords of Islam is the same terrorist group responsible for bombing of internet cafes and music shops. It is believed they are a relatively new group in the region with links to Al-Qaida.
The gang issued an edict saying the women should have their throats cut `from vein to vein.' The threats were contained in an email sent to Palestinian news organizations.
They charged the broadcasters with `immoral behavior'.
In a leaflet posted by the Islamists they said, "The saying these days is that the enemy has withdrawn from the Gaza Strip and so have our morals. It's indeed disgraceful that the women working for the official Palestinian media are competing with each other to display their charms."
The leaflet complained the TV presenters were not wearing the niqab (a veil which covers the face of Muslim women)
They asked: "Where are the decision-makers in this regard? Have we lost our conscience? Have the brothers, fathers and husbands stopped caring about their women?"
The threats were specific. "We will destroy their homes. We will blow up their working places. We have a lot of information about their addresses and we are following their movements."
The women would be `slaughtered' they said, for spreading corruption in Palestinian society.
Gaza is plunging deeper into the doctrine of fear and submission associated with strict Islamic Sharia law. Many fear Islamic extremists plan to push the society towards a Taliban-style governance.
Ynet.news in Israel broke the story. They said, "Many of the 15 women broadcasters on government-run Palestine TV wear headscarves. But they also wear makeup and Western clothing, which is not considered strictly observant by the extremists."
When asked, several of the women said they had already received direct threats by mobile phone.
One broadcaster interviewed for the Ynet report said she was too frightened to go to work Saturday. "It's a dangerous precedent in our society. It will target all working women." The TV anchor refused to give her name out of fear. "The statement frightened us," she said.
The Palestinian Broadcasting Corporation (PBC) is funded by the Fatah faction, headed by PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas. They have announced they are taking the threats seriously. A spokesman claimed they have ample on-the-job security for their staff but the danger for the women broadcasters is when they are traveling to and from work.
The Palestinian territories is not a safe place to be a journalist. BBC journalist Alan Johnson was kidnapped there on March 12. He was the only foreign journalist to maintain a full-time office in the region. All the other international journalists are doing their reporting from Jerusalem.
Take a careful look in coming days. Check out whether the world media reports on this situation.
The world has to know Israel is not the enemy. As these Islamists grow with more and more confidence their threats will spread like a virus.
As one observer in Ramallah said, "They want to take us back to the dark ages." Unfortunately too many have been forced to go back there, already.
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Three years ago he joined Bridges for Peace in Jerusalem to establish international radio news and an audio service webcast at www.bridgesforpeace.com Ron was Sports Editor of WINTV for 20 years before joining the full-time missions. You can contact Ron at : ronrossbfp@hotmail.com |
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