Middle East News

Hamas annuls decision to impose dress code on Gaza female lawyers

Sep 6, 2009, 14:13 GMT

Gaza - The ministry of Justice in the Hamas government ruling the Gaza Strip announced Sunday it was annulling a controversial decision to impose special Islamic dress code on female lawyers in the Strip.

The decision, originally signed on July 9 by Abdel Ra'ouf al-Halabi, the head of the Highest Council of Justice, was annulled by al-Halabi himself.

The July 9 decision triggered controversy among lawyers and human rights groups. They held a series of meetings, and considered the resolution as contrary to the Basic Law.

The Gaza-based Palestinian Bar Association threatened to launch a general strike and carry out escalatory actions such as boycotting the courts, if the Hamas administration implemented the original resolution.

Al-Halabi slammed the Gaza and international-based rights groups who opposed his July decision, saying that 'there was an interpretation of the resolution for purposes and goals that do not serve the public.

The Islamist Hamas, which seized control of the Strip in June 2007, is facing a mounting criticism for seeking to impose strict Muslim religious procedures.

Radical Islamic groups, on the other hand, accuse it of failing to implement Islamic religious law.