Hamas in Gaza says it's learning from Arab Spring

By Karin Laub and Mohammed Daraghmeh

Associated Press

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip—Bans on women smoking water pipes in public and male coiffeurs styling women's hair are no longer being strictly enforced in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip, apparent signs of greater tolerance as the Islamic militant group acknowledges mistakes in seeking to impose a religious lifestyle.

In explaining the change, several senior members said Hamas has matured in five years in power and learned lessons from the Arab Spring. Islamic groups that have scored election victories in the wake of pro-democracy uprisings in the region now find themselves trying to allay fears they seek Islamic rule.

Since seizing Gaza, Hamas had largely silenced opponents and tried to impose stricter religious rules on an already conservative society. Modesty squads asked young couples seen in public to show proof of marriage, told beachgoers to put on more clothes and ordered shopowners to cover up mannequins. High school girls came under pressure from teachers to wear headscarves.

In recent months, there's been a change in atmosphere, say rights activists and even political rivals of Hamas.

"Things are freer than before," said Nasser Radwan, whose family restaurant is one of the places where women again come to smoke water pipes.

Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum said "some mistakes were made" under Hamas rule, though he blamed individual security commanders and overzealous activists, not the government, for heavy-handed tactics.

"They don't represent the ideology and policy of the Hamas movement," Barhoum said. "Our policy is that we are not going to dictate anything to anyone."

Huda Naim, a Hamas legislator, said the movement took its cues from the pro-democracy revolts sweeping the Arab world, but also has learned it needs to be more tolerant of others.

It's not clear whether the changes are tactical, or whether they represent a true shift that will lead to more political freedom. Hamas has shut down offices of political rival Fatah, arrested activists and strictly controls the local media. However, in recent months, it has permitted rivals, including Fatah, to stage rallies that were previously banned.

There are no signs Hamas is softening its stance toward Israel -- the movement refuses to recognize the Jewish state or rule out violence against it -- or that it is breaking its alliance with financial benefactor Iran and with Syria, its longtime host. Hamas has reduced its presence in Syria following President Bashar Assad's crackdown on anti-government protesters, but continues to maintain a foothold there.

Hamas won Palestinian parliamentary elections in 2006, defeating Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah faction. After failed power-sharing attempts, Hamas seized Gaza a year later, defeating Abbas' forces and leaving him with only the West Bank. Acrimony intensified as dueling governments in the two territories cracked down on rivals.

Hamas is the only wing of the pan-Arab Muslim Brotherhood movement that has had a chance to rule, and its performance is of interest following the Brotherhood's strong showings in recent elections in Egypt, Tunisia and Morocco. The Brotherhood faces concerns in the West and among local secular groups that the Islamists, despite their embrace of democracy, might gradually try to establish strict theocracies.Continued...

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