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Last update - 00:00 01/01/2008
UN envoy: Women in Gaza feel coerced into covering their heads
By Barak Ravid
Tags: UN, Judaism, Islam, Israel

The United Nations Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief
says women in the Gaza Strip have recently felt coerced into covering their heads, while Christians there have faced rising intolerance.

The UN envoy, Asma Jahangir, visited Israel and the Palestinian Authority last week and published a report on her eight-day trip.
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"Women seem to be in a particularly vulnerable situation and bear the brunt of religious zeal. I was informed about cases of honor killings carried out with impunity in the name of religion," she added.

Jahangir met with Chief Rabbi Shlomo Amar and Minister of Religious Affairs Yitzhak Cohen, as well as many others involved in religious affairs.

The UN representative expressed surprise to Amar that women were not allowed to serve as religious court judges. Amar answered that the study of religious law is a burden that women are exempt from, but this did not satisfy Jahangir, who said human rights were advancing and religions were remaining behind.

She also criticized the Orthodox religious establishment in Israel.

"There are concerns that the state gives preferential treatment to the
Orthodox Jewish majority in Israel to the detriment not only of other
religious or belief communities but also of other strands of Judaism," she said. "For example, conversion to Judaism within Israel is only recognised if performed by the Orthodox Rabbinate."

Jahangir added: "I find it difficult to understand that under domestic law persons can be deemed to be 'unmarriageable'," referring to the 200,000 Israeli citizens and residents who have problems marrying since they have no official religion. She and Minister Cohen disagreed on the matter.

She said that "freedom of religion or belief also includes the right not to believe."

Foreign Ministry officials who accompanied Jahangir were surprised when she said Israeli roadblocks not only impede Christians and Muslims from accessing their holy places. They also prevent Jewish Israelis from praying at their holy places such as the Temple Mount.

She faintly praised Israel, saying: "During my talks with members of religious minorities in Israel, my interlocutors have by and large acknowledged that there is no religious persecution by the State. Within the Israeli democracy, I would like to emphasize the important role that the Supreme Court has played in the past and can play for safeguarding freedom of religion or belief."

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      1.   As a Muslim Asma Jahangir cannot resist a cheap shot at Israel 00:28  |  Genuine Tosefta 01/01/08
      2.   My, my. What have we here? Intolerance? Nah....Must be the Jews. 00:36  |  bat yam 01/01/08
      3.   sick UN 00:38  |  Judith 01/01/08
      4.   Today Gaza, Tomorrow Europe 00:44  |  Efox 01/01/08
      5.   Coersion? They got what they`ve asked for! 00:55  |  Fish 01/01/08
      6.   Civil Rights in Israel 00:10  |  Samuel 01/01/08
      7.   genuine tosefta 1 00:12  |  realism 01/01/08
      8.   Yeah, realism unreal, but this Lady is supposed to be impartial 00:37  |  Genuine Toseftat 01/01/08
      9.   So when was she promoted from reporter? 00:57  |  MaryRose 01/01/08
      10.   realism, as a woman, I`d rather be denied... 00:04  |  MaryRose 01/01/08
      11.   wait for the stonings of the women 00:17  |  jewish doctor 01/01/08
      12.   what coerced ? silly Ravid, it rains hard in Gaza ! 00:44  |  um kul tum 01/01/08
      13.   Rising intolerance? 00:46  |  Lynn 01/01/08
      14.   Muslim Brotherhood agenda being realized in Hamastan 00:49  |  Polybios 01/01/08
      15.   Turkey decided to allow the hijab in university today. 00:50  |  MaryRose 01/01/08
      16.   POOR Mussie women, was force to wear "Hijab" 00:11  |  Cristo 01/01/08
      17.   Gaza women must wear head covering-as in Mea Shearim 00:33  |  Eli 01/01/08
      18.   message to Christian Palestinians 00:18  |  massi 01/01/08
      19.   Rabbis=Imams 00:44  |  Didi 01/01/08
      20.   Religion, poison for mankind! 00:47  |  Jacob 01/01/08
      21.   this is specially for don camillo and doris the fake dutch 00:59  |  v hardman 01/01/08
      22.   Sunday people first, than .. 00:24  |  Jacob 01/01/08
      23.   Equality in Israel 00:35  |  Joel 01/01/08
      24.   O.K, OCCUPATION CAN CONTINUE 00:37  |  indrajaya 01/01/08
      25.   Religion and the Dark Ages. 00:54  |  Stephen. 01/01/08
      26.   I agree with her, she seems balanced 00:16  |  nina 01/01/08
      27.   agree with massi 00:26  |  The Judge 01/01/08
      28.   Hijab in Gaza isnot the issue Haaretz 00:30  |  Issa 01/01/08
      29.   Don`t let`s start on religious silliness 00:31  |  Natallie Durson 01/01/08
      30.   Cohersion 00:37  |  Noura 01/01/08
      31.   the veil 00:43  |  Muslim woman 01/01/08
      32.   Orthodoxy in any religion treats women badly 00:55  |  Benjamina 01/01/08
      33.   For every honour killing and every killing for "indecent" 00:07  |  Karl 01/01/08
      34.   Our sisters in Gaza, our sorrow for you 00:17  |  kiwi girl 01/01/08
      35.   Iraqi women too, by the millions! 00:35  |  Navy Vet 01/01/08
      36.   re: Stephen 00:43  |  Efox 01/01/08
      37.   Natalie Durson, a question: 00:45  |  Fred the sausage 01/01/08
      38.   kiwi girl 00:49  |  Fred the sausage 01/01/08
      39.   Religion 00:04  |  Nana 01/01/08
      40.   Kiwi girl 34 00:12  |  jackie 01/01/08
      41.   Bias against Jews 00:49  |  Hilda 01/01/08
      42.   # 29 Durson....it is a matter of personal choice 00:25  |  Lynn 01/01/08
      43.   # 34 kiwi girl...how do you explain 00:32  |  Lynn 01/01/08
      44.   mary rose 10 00:38  |  realism 01/01/08
      45.   To Lynn, #43 00:48  |  Challenger 01/01/08
      46.   Nazillie Durson 00:53  |  Nik Miller 01/01/08
      47.   To MaryRose on realism, No 10 00:55  |  AmericanCitizizenToo 01/01/08
      48.   AmericanCitizizenToo 00:14  |  Boris S. 01/01/08
      49.   NOTHING WRONG WITH HIJAB !!! 00:23  |  Rubiconski 01/01/08
      50.   DO JEWS EVER STOP SPREADING LIES? 00:28  |  Rubiconski 01/01/08
      51.   kiwi girl?? 00:10  |  Ralph 01/01/08
      52.   # 45 challenger 00:15  |  Lynn 01/01/08
      53.   To Boris S. 00:20  |  AmericanCitizizenToo 01/01/08
      54.   In Islam it is the norm,women are forced 00:20  |  TOMY 01/01/08
      55.   Rubiconski we all know that it`s the latest fashion 00:27  |  Iz Ray Leigh 01/01/08
      56.   This is What You Get When Religious Fanatics Attain Power! 00:35  |  MIKE 01/01/08
      57.   # 49 rubiconski nothing wrong at all 00:38  |  Lynn 01/01/08
      58.   Re 1: READ PROFILE OF THIS BRAVE PAKISTANI WOMEN BEFORE YOU BARK 00:40  |  JACKAL 01/01/08
      59.   # 47 Americancitizentoo...the difference is 00:40  |  Lynn 01/01/08
      60.   INDRAJAYA, Muslims are much too quick to ignore it. 00:41  |  Virginia 01/01/08
      61.   Eli and Mea Shearim 00:45  |  ChanahS 01/01/08
      62.   I feel no need to cover my head:God is my Glory, I am not ashamed 00:46  |  Virginia 01/01/08
      63.   let`s talk religion part 2 00:00  |  Abeer 01/01/08
      64.   let`s talk religion part 3 00:02  |  Abeer 01/01/08
      65.   # 47 American Too? NOT!!! 00:06  |  Petra 01/01/08
      66.   #49 Rubiconski - you are missing the point 00:13  |  * BEN JABO 01/01/08
      67.   #34 Kiwi Girl - stop your crying 00:18  |  * BEN JABO 01/01/08
      68.   AmericanCitizizenToo 00:30  |  Boris S. 01/01/08
      69.   kiwi girl 00:31  |  David Israel 01/01/08
      70.   lynn 59 00:36  |  realism 01/01/08
      71.   petra 65 00:39  |  realism 01/01/08
      72.   boria s 69 00:42  |  realism 01/01/08
      73.   First off, none of you live in Gaza, I did 00:24  |  Nancy 01/01/08
      74.   The point being 00:37  |  Paul Wood 01/01/08
      75.   #24 00:42  |  Moshe 01/01/08
      76.   Boria #72 - Are you advo9cating that practice? 00:48  |  David Israel 01/01/08
      77.   Boria - My post was for unrealist realism 00:50  |  David Israel 01/01/08
      78.   #47 AmericanCitizenToo 00:03  |  Moshe 01/01/08
      79.   #50 00:16  |  Moshe 01/01/08
      80.   #58 00:33  |  Moshe 01/01/08
      81.   Agree with Massi, and sad 00:39  |  fiona 01/01/08
      82.   # 70 realism...in the US, leniency depends 00:58  |  Lynn 01/01/08
      83.   # 74 Paul Wood....I`m of the opinion 00:01  |  Lynn 01/01/08
      84.   Better question re: Muslim Theocracy 00:25  |  Curious Jew 01/01/08
      85.   hamas h. been elected; however, i do not 00:49  |  bozhidar balkas 01/01/08
      86.   Is this for real 00:50  |  American Patriot 01/01/08
      87.   kassams are just 1 problem/crime out of 00:07  |  bozhidar balkas 01/01/08
      88.   Sausage Fred 00:15  |  kiwi girl 01/01/08
      89.   Ralph - learn to read 00:23  |  kiwi girl 01/01/08
      90.   Lynn, can you do anything more than spin doctoring? 00:27  |  Ibrahim 01/01/08
      91.   david israel 76 00:28  |  realism 01/01/08
      92.   lynn 82 00:31  |  realism 01/01/08
      93.   David Israel 00:34  |  kiwi girl 01/01/08
      94.   #14 Polybios. "Muslim Brotherhood in Israel." 00:39  |  Maureen Ann 01/01/08
      95.   #47 AmCitizen:honour killing a standard procedure in Islam 00:44  |  CrimeinWest 01/01/08
      96.   Taking a dip in a public swimming pool with burka-suits on! 00:58  |  in Sweden 01/01/08
      97.   Nancy 00:07  |  kiwi girl 01/01/08
      98.   Natallie #29 00:08  |  Neal 01/01/08
      99.   # 84 bozhidar....Well said!! 00:09  |  Lynn 01/01/08
      100.   The UN Religious Policewoman 00:13  |  Jeff Northridge 01/01/08
      101.   #49 Rubisconski. I will tell you what the real worry is. 00:16  |  Maureen Ann 01/01/08
      102.   Am. Citizen #47 - the big difference is... 00:27  |  Polybios 01/01/08
      103.   yes kiwi girl you were trying to blame israel for 00:00  |  terrornator 01/01/08
      104.   Why describe Help is best for all 00:04  |  Dr Antoine Fahed 01/01/08
      105.   Ibrahim #90 00:38  |  Danite 01/01/08
      106.   # 73 Nancy...well, that is a good thing 00:52  |  Lynn 01/01/08
      107.   # 90 Ibrahim...so make excuses 00:56  |  Lynn 01/01/08
      108.   # 100 Jeff Northridge...condoms at high mass 00:00  |  Lynn 01/01/08
      109.   #92 realism....some standards in other places in the world 00:02  |  Lynn 01/01/08
      110.   # 94 Maureen Ann...did the documentary 00:43  |  Lynn 01/01/08
      111.   A Legend: The Death of a Saudi Princess & Zionism long tentacles 00:49  |  Genuine Tosefta 01/01/08
      112.   Manufactured Distractions! 00:09  |  Stupid Goyim 01/01/08
      113.   KIWI girl female circumcision,honor killing,death for adultery 00:26  |  PETER SM 01/01/08
      114.   Salafi Islam behind cruelty to women! 00:12  |  AliciaYasmeen 01/01/08
      115.   stay away from muslim women u parasites 00:16  |  donnie 01/01/08
      116.   Maureen Ann - Thanks 00:03  |  Polybios 01/01/08
      117.   SO WHAT 00:12  |  MOHAMMAD 01/01/08
      118.   #94 Maureen Ann - As ignorant as ever 00:12  |  * BEN JABO 01/01/08
      119.   Maureen Ann - Can you cite a single instance 00:16  |  * BEN JABO 01/01/08
      120.   #101 moaning ann and the school principal 00:22  |  v hardman 01/01/08
      121.   headline 00:25  |  Catherine McMullen 01/01/08
      122.   Maureen Ann - Keep on displaying your ignorance 00:49  |  * BEN JABO 01/01/08
      123.   #19 Didi 00:54  |  * BEN JABO 01/01/08
      124.   #118, Ben Jabo... 00:02  |  Silvienne 01/01/08
      125.   #120, v hardman to maureen... 00:03  |  Silvienne 01/01/08
      126.   DONNIE No complaints about Saudi schoolgirls burnt to death 00:05  |  PETER SM 01/01/08
      127.   silvienne read #101 it tells all 00:28  |  v hardman 01/01/08
      128.   @112 NO Distraction. Hamas is an Islamist NO PEACE EVER party 00:48  |  PETER SM 01/01/08
      129.   to 73 Nancy 00:19  |  Nana 01/01/08
      130.   KIWI GIRL: Honor Killing 00:23  |  Nana 01/01/08
      131.   lynn 109 00:31  |  realism 01/01/08
      132.   ben jabo 122 00:21  |  realism 01/01/08
      133.   #124 Silvinne - They don`t wear them 24/7 00:57  |  * BEN JABO 01/01/08
      134.   Realism you have a short memory, I don`t 00:59  |  * BEN JABO 01/01/08
      135.   ben jabo 134 00:40  |  realism 01/01/08
      136.   #124-2 Silvienne 00:21  |  * BEN JABO 01/01/08
      137.   #135, Ben Jabo....!! 00:07  |  Silvienne 01/01/08
      138.   #137-2 Silvienne - What U say is partially factual 00:52  |  * BEN JABO 01/01/08
      139.   second ben jabo 134 00:50  |  realism 01/01/08
      140.   #138, Ben Jabo...what I should have said is... 00:52  |  Silvienne 01/01/08
      141.   #139, realism..Ben Jabo is not a coward... 00:54  |  Silvienne 01/01/08
      142.   #140 Silvienne 00:50  |  * BEN JABO 01/01/08
      143.   #141 Silvienne - 00:55  |  * BEN JABO 01/01/08
      144.   #141-2 Silvienne - U know I keep good records 00:05  |  * BEN JABO 01/01/08
      145.   #143, Ben Jabo.... 00:12  |  Silvienne 01/01/08
      146.   #142, Ben Jabo... 00:15  |  Silvienne 01/01/08
      147.   #145 Silvienne - Now you know my frustration 00:19  |  * BEN JABO 01/01/08
      148.   #146 Silvienne - 00:22  |  * BEN JABO 01/01/08
      149.   #148, Ben Jabo... 00:43  |  Silvienne 01/01/08
      150.   #149 Silvienne - I didn`t make it up 00:07  |  * BEN JABO 01/01/08
      151.   #101 Maureen Ann 00:05  |  reb 01/01/08
      152.   Muslim women have no rights 00:24  |  oppressed 01/01/09
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