The Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip is inching ever closer to being ruled by Sharia Law, much like Afghanistan was ruled by the Taliban prior to the US-led invasion of that country.
London-based Arabic daily Al-Quds Al-Arabi reported on Sunday that representatives of several Hamas government ministries, as well as senior Gaza police officials, had recently gotten together and formulated a "General Moral List" that is expected to be authorized and implemented in phases.
The effects of that decision were seen earlier this month when a Gaza court ruled that female lawyers must wear traditional head coverings and dresses when practicing law.
That ruling followed independent reports over the past few months that Muslim morality squads had increased their activity in Gaza, particularly on the beaches, where they were forcing female bathers to cover their heads.
The same squads have also been inspecting vehicles to make sure unmarried couples are not traveling alone together.
When Hamas seized control of Gaza in 2007, its leaders promised they would not impose the group's strict Islamic views on the residents of the coastal strip.