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'You have no religion.' Zahar
Photo: AP

Hamas leader: Islamization no crime

Mahmoud Al-Zahar denounces Muslim veil ban in Europe, says Westerners use women 'as animals'

The West is floundering in immorality and has no right to criticize the Islamist movement Hamas over the way it governs the Palestinian territory of Gaza, a veteran leader of the terror group said.

 

Hamas leader Mahmoud Al-Zahar told Reuters in an interview that Islamic traditions deserved respect and he accused Europe of promoting promiscuity and political hypocrisy.

 

"We have the right to control our life according to our religion, not according to your religion. You have no religion, you are secular," said Zahar, who is one of the group's most influential and respected voices.

 

"You do not live like human beings. You do not (even) live like animals. You accept homosexuality. And now you criticize us?" he said earlier this week, speaking from his apartment building in the densely populated city.

 

Hamas, which is an acronym for Islamic Resistance Movement and means "zeal" in Arabic, won a fair, 2006 Palestinian parliamentary election and then seized control of Gaza in 2007 after routing Fatah, loyal to President Mahmoud Abbas.

 

Sitting in a cavernous reception room, with an old Mercedes saloon car parked in one corner, Zahar denounced European states, such as France, for recently introducing legislation preventing Muslim women from wearing full face veils in public.

 

"We are the ones who respect women and honor women ... not you," he said. "You use women as an animal. She has one husband and hundreds of thousands of boyfriends. You don't know who is the father of your sons, because of the way you respect women."

 

Zahar speaks fluent English and serves as an important contact point between Hamas and Western governments, few of which recognize the group because of its hostility to Israel, but nonetheless have indirect ties.

 

'You are poor people'

Hamas faces criticism, including from within local society, for enforcing laws seen as "Islamizing" Gaza by measures such as banning women riding motorcycles or smoking water pipes.

 

The movement sees its brand of political Islam as moderate and has crushed challenges from small groups which have adopted more radical views. The bearded-Zahar defended Hamas laws, but declined to say how far it would go with Islamization.

 

"Is it a crime to Islamize the people? I am a Muslim living here according to our tradition. Why should I live under your tradition?" said Zahar, who served as Hamas foreign minister between 2006-2007 and is under constant, heavy protection.

 

"We understand you very well, You are poor people. Morally poor. Don't criticize us because of what we are."

 

Zahar, a surgeon who taught medicine at Gaza's Islamic University, said he was particularly incensed that Western nations could denounce Hamas while at the same time enjoying extremely close relations with neighboring Israel.

 

The United States and European Union classify Hamas as a terrorist organization and its charter calls for the destruction of Israel, although its leaders say they could live peacefully alongside the country under a prolonged ceasefire.

 

Hamas rejects the terrorist label, saying it is engaged in a legitimate struggle to free land illegally occupied by Israel.

 

Two of Zahar's own sons have been killed in separate Israeli airstrikes, including one who died in a failed 2003 assassination attempt on Zahar himself.

 

"You should be ashamed of supporting Israel. You cannot support the foundation of Israel. Don't you care about the assassination of people here?" Zahar said.

 

 


פרסום ראשון: 10.28.10, 14:58
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