Posted By Karima Saifullah

September 23, 2007

While veiled women in Europe are not allowed to do certain jobs, like teaching, those in the Palestinian territories actually play a key role in the police force. 

According to an AFP article, Gaza women have been joining the police force since Hamas’ takeover of the coastal strip in June, emphasizing the gender equality of Islam. 

Susan Aqal, a 28-year-old Palestinian university graduate, told AFP that it was a dream for her to join the force even though she previously worked as a lawyer for different organizations. 

“This is my field. This is what I studied. I wanted a job in security and used to work in other organisations, but when I got the chance I didn't hesitate to join the police force," said the wife of a lawyer who is a Hamas paramilitary officer and the mother of a baby boy.

Hamas paramilitaries currently employ fifty women, who are mostly secretaries except for the ten women based at the Saraya prison who decided to play a role in policing the world’s most densely-populated territory. 

Women like Aqal take part in different kinds of interrogations; about drugs, theft and even murder. “I know that this job needs a strong personality and someone who is courageous. I'm not scared. I just feel that the guilty need to be punished”, she told AFP. 

“We're treated very well within our brotherhood. I work here in the compound and deal with criminals directly. I interrogate men as well as women. At the moment I'm assisting our officers because we haven't finished our training yet," she added.

Gaza police women are totally backed by their male colleagues, who think that women joining the force can have a hidden value. 

“Females can't be touched by a man, therefore we need women police. That's proof we are a lawful country and not an Islamic state. It doesn't violate Sharia law either”, said Amin Nawfal.

Nawfal works as a commander in self-styled “man’s police” and supervises the newly-joined women’s training. He will also be supervising their firearms training, which enables them to take a part in real-life arrests.

Despite the fact that Aqal works from 8 am till 3 pm for six days a week, she explained it is not affecting her personnel life as her mom helps her look after her newborn baby. She is also getting huge support from her husband as well other women in her family who work as well.

Earning USD 300 a month, Aqal is looking forward to doubling her salary
after her trial period is over. 

Women like Aqal are provided with an office furnished with a computer in addition to a cell phone; however, her main concern is the uniform that is identical to those working in the administration.

Gaza police women wear long-loose black coats with purple and white headscarves to cover their hair completely. But Aqal wants a uniform that is close to what the policemen wear. 

"In time there will be a women's uniform in keeping with Islamic sharia, so it won't be a shirt or a T-shirt. It'll be the same as she's wearing," said Nawfal, "We hope it will be the same color and look as the men's uniform”.

Nawaf also said that women’s participation in the police force is very controversial, adding that few outside Hamas even know about the existence of such opportunity. 

He added that some women are scared to join because they are worried about losing salaries paid by the Western-backed government in the occupied West Bank, led by President Mahmoud Abbas‘ Fatah party. 

Others dismiss the idea of joining the police force, fearing that they could be branded “terrorists” by the U.S. and Europe, who already classify Hamas as a “terrorist organization”. 

Muslim women can easily follow Islam while practicing their jobs as long as they dress modestly and do not cross limits with men. 

Women work as police across the Muslim world. In the Islamic Republic of Iran, women join the police force, and receive the same training provided to men, like using guns, chasing cars and disabling bombs. 

These examples prove the progressive thinking of Islam and dispel the negative stereotypes that some non-Muslims hold.

©  EsinIslam.Com

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