Palestinian women may not travel to Dubai with their daughters unless accompanied by a male family member, according to the Palestinian Authority's grand mufti.
Mufti Muhammad Ahmad Hussein's remarks came during a Dec. 16 interview on "Fatwa," a program broadcast on official PA TV, according to Palestinian Media Watch. Hussein was appointed to his post by PA President Mahmoud Abbas in 2006.
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While the PA is often considered religiously moderate, its top religious leaders, including Abbas' adviser on Islam, have been given air-time on official PA TV over the years to advance fundamentalist religious positions, according to PMW.
For example, in one interview regarding the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, Hussein was asked whether a woman could refuse to have sex with her husband if he failed to fast and pray as required. Hussein replied: "That is not a reason … It is his right [to have sex]. …This woman may not and has no rights to deny him this right, especially during the permissible time, which is night time."
Reprinted with permission from JNS.org
