Assault on female reporter for not wearing hijab sparks backlash in Gaza
A female reporter was recently insulted and physically assaulted for not wearing the Islamic headscarf, which renewed the debate about women’s rights in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip.
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — The Ministry of Interior and National Security in the Gaza Strip issued April 30 a statement about a complaint filed by reporter Riwa Murshid who was attacked by two members of a Hamas military unit — known as Hama al-Thaghour (Breach Defenders) — for not wearing the hijab in the Juhr al-Deek border area in central Gaza.
The ministry said Murshid failed to notify competent authorities before entering the border area, and did not show any card proving she was a reporter on an official mission.
According to the ministry’s statement, a member of the Hamas-run unit violated the guidelines on dealing with civilians, by arguing with Murshid and beating her with a tree branch. One of his colleagues intervened to calm the situation and allowed Murshid and her colleagues to leave.
The Ministry of Interior “decided to impose imprisonment on the aggressor and force him to apologize to Murshid,” the statement continued.
