MP al-Shanti: we have exerted relentless efforts to guarantee women's rights

Sunday November 18, 2007 17:42 by Rami Almeghari - IMEMC Execlusive

In an exclusive interview with IMEMC, the Hamas-linked Jamila al-Shanti of the Palestinian Legislative Council's bloc, Change and Reform, and chairwoman of the PLC's women affairs committee, says her committee has exerted relentless efforts to guarantee women's rights.

Palestinian PLC member , Jamila aL-Shanti of Hamas/ photo by IMEMC staff

Has Hamas been concerned about women's rights in areas under its control?

The PLC's Hamas-led women affairs committee has been making relentless efforts as to guarantee women's rights in accordance with the people's heritage of traditions and the relevant laws. Prior to taking power, Hamas as a group used to hold several meetings and training sessions for women from all sectors, enlightening them in terms of violence against women, heritage and divorce.

"we used to instruct women to reject violence against them, denial by the family members of their right to heritage, urging them to file petitions against those who happen to deny such rights. This emanates from our understanding of the true Islam". we are totally against violence and repression of women freedoms , but when we reached the parliament , we have been faced with a large campaign against us ". For example, we have never called for wearing the Hijjab (Islamic head cover), we only advised women to wear it and we never oblige any woman, even those supporting Hamas, to wear the veil.

Has Hamas differentiated between women of the various factional representations?

Hamas's active women, during trainings and meetings, have never differentiated between women, irrespective to their political affiliations and social backgrounds.

"When we took positions in the parliament, we invited all women from the various factions for meetings and discussions on common women concerns. Then we provided a comprehensive program that deals with all such concerns"

"We found out that most of participants who are not affiliated with Hamas, have been refusing to adopt basic pro-women Islamic teachings. The problem lies in these women's interpretation of Islam. They rather accused us of attempting to implement the Saharia (Islamic law), while we actually want to guarantee women's rights in an 'already Islamic society'".

"When we used to present our program, we are happened to be faced with alleged thoughts by other non-Hamas women. For example, once we were argued that Hamas-linked men and clerics prefer the multiple-wives marriage. Such a kind of marriage is done by many others, not by Hamas's people exclusively.

Have you passed pro-women legislations?

Hamas, using its majority representation at the parliament, has passed some of legislations concerning women's rights. For example, the inheritance from the family, which the majority of Gaza families, deny to their daughters, has been presented in a fair way that makes women feel secured, as far as inheritance is concerned.

"We presented the legislation , yet it has not been executed so far. Some other affiliations alleged that this law derogates women, dealing with them inferior to men. The law states that women should take half of the inheritance's share, a man happens to take ".

"I challenge that there exists any other law that gives such a right to women, the way the Islamic Sharia' law does". As for the early marriage, Hamas's bloc then has proposed specifying no age for the marriage, as some women are more mature physically than others, while in other places; women get mature earlier in age, the way in hot weathers.

Are you optimistic or pessimistic over the situation of women in Gaza?

There are many factors that prompt pessimism, such as the widowing, the awful unemployment and the continued Israeli siege of Gaza. However, there is some hope towards a better situation of women here, mainly dependent on reaching a common ground with all other affiliations on adopting perceptions that are not far from the Islamic teachings, which are fair to women.

gaza strip | miscellaneous | interview rami at imemc dot org