HOLY LAND: ISLAM & ITS ADHERENT, ENFORCING ALLAH'S LAWS

In Chaotic Gaza, Islamists Firebomb Internet Cafes Over Morals
By Daniel Williams

Feb. 26 (Bloomberg) -- Soon after a firebomb exploded at 3 a.m. and destroyed four computers in the Al-Shawa Online Internet Cafe in Gaza, owner Alaa al-Shawa clicked onto his e-mail at an undamaged machine.

The first message surprised him: It was from the bombers themselves, explaining that establishments such as his were keeping Muslims away from prayer and providing pornography. That's why it was hit.

``This just shows how confused these fanatics are,'' said Al-Shawa, 27. ``Even they use the Internet to circulate their statements, but they think everyone else uses it for porno.''

About 45 Internet outlets have been bombed since Dec. 1, according to figures from Gaza's Central Police Office. The attacks are occurring against a backdrop of intense infighting between Fatah, the main faction of the Palestine Liberation Organization, and Hamas, the Islamist party and militia that has grown into the Palestinians' dominant political force. The street clashes have led to general lawlessness in the area.

``Gaza society tends toward conservatism, and some people are suspicious of the Internet, but the attacks on Internet cafes come in the context of general chaos,'' said Isam Younis, director of Gaza's independent Al-Mizan Center for Human Rights. ``Simply, there's an absence of law.''

Claiming Responsibility

A group called the Swords of Islamic Righteousness has claimed responsibility for the attacks. In a leaflet distributed at Al-Azhar University last month, it said it attacked Internet cafes ``which are trying to make a whole generation preoccupied with matters other than jihad and worship.''
The group also claimed to have blown up the car of someone who played his stereo loudly. ``If people don't listen, we will take further steps,'' the leaflet warned.

Police have been unable to find or identify any suspects in the Internet attacks. Hamas, which promotes piety as part of its political program, denies any links.

In addition to Web establishments, Swords of Islamic Righteousness has firebombed pharmacies it suspects of peddling narcotics and recreational drugs, police say.

The government-run Palestinian Commission for Citizens' Rights reported that 41 Palestinians died in political violence last year in the West Bank and Gaza Strip and another 193 in common crime, a 50 percent increase over 2005.

The Internet is a means for some 1.4 million residents to break out of the isolation of the Gaza Strip, where there is no functioning airport or seaport and where crossing the borders into Israel or Egypt is subject to tight control.

...


Pertinent Links:

1) In Chaotic Gaza, Islamists Firebomb Internet Cafes Over Morals