Hamas Gives Green Light to Salafi Party

Hamas spokesmen in Gaza said Saturday that they will allow the creation of a new political party in Gaza affiliated with Salafi Islam, as long as the party follows Palestinian Authority law. Local Salafi leaders intend to establish a party, to be called A-Nour, that will call to rule Gaza according to their interpretation of Islamic law (Sharia).

Hamas has already instituted its version of Islamic law, including a ban on behavior viewed as immodest and the death penalty for adultery, drug smuggling and murder. Salafi groups in the region have a more extreme interpretation of Sharia law, and in the past have attacked music stores and Internet cafes for being “un-Islamic.”