In Gaza, travel restrictions imposed on women

Demonstration against the decision prohibiting women from entering and leaving the Gaza Strip without the permission of her "guardian", February 16, 2021. AP - Adel Hana

Text by: Alice Froussard Follow

4 min

In Gaza, a recent court decision is controversial.

Women cannot leave the coastal enclave without permission from a guardian.

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It is forbidden "

for an unmarried woman, whether she is a virgin or not, to travel without permission from a guardian who can refuse her to travel in case of prejudice

", explains the text of the decision signed by the President of the Council. supreme charia, Hassan al-Joujou.

By guardian, one should understand the father or a brother, or another older relative, male.

This authorization must be registered with the court.

In the wording of the decision, it is also understood that a married woman must have the authorization of her husband. 

This also applies to unmarried men, who may be refused any outing if their family does not agree.

They don't need compulsory permission, like women, but if the family doesn't agree, they can let the court know.

However, it should be noted that the possibility of "traveling" is very limited in Gaza, under Israeli and Egyptian blockades.

Leaving the coastal strip of land is arduous, costly and extremely difficult. 

Women's rights undermined

There were protests outside the office of the Supreme Sharia Council.

And on social media, many have accused Hamas of rolling back women's rights as Saudi Arabia for its part tries to ease some restrictions, including allowing women to drive.

Palestinian women's rights activist, Zainab al-Ghunaimi, even speaks of setbacks in the protection of human rights in general, because the decision goes against the basic Palestinian law, which grants equal rights adults.

The Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine, a leftist party, calls on Hamas to reverse the deal.

A decision that must be reformulated

The

Euro-Mediterranean Observatory for Human Rights

- a group of NGOs, for its part, points to a violation of international law.

For Hassan al-Joujou, president of the Supreme Council of Sharia law, the Koranic law, this decision is "

balanced, in accordance with civil and Islamic laws

", according to him, the noise on social networks is unjustified.

He explains that this measure was taken following past incidents, where girls had traveled without their parents' knowledge, and men had left, leaving their wives and children alone in the enclave.

The Supreme Council of Sharia, however, said on Tuesday February 16, after all these reactions, that it agreed to reformulate the decision.

We don't know when or how at the moment. 

Hamas at the helm

The move comes as the Palestinians are planning elections next May and July, the first in 15 years.

For some Palestinian analysts, this could be a strategic step to consolidate the Hamas vote with its conservative and religious base.

Especially at a time when criticism is sharp against the government in power in Gaza.

This decision may also have been taken in an attempt to limit the exit of women from Gaza, who are looking for work outside, at a time when the unemployment rate is 51% in this coastal strip of land under blockade.

But the decision also comes just days after a campaign to help and save two young girls from Gaza.

They were trying to flee domestic violence and sexual abuse from their families by leaving the enclave.

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• Palestinian territories

• Womens rights

• Women