Hamas pushes for Sharia punishments
JPost.com Staff , THE JERUSALEM POST Dec. 24, 2008
www.jpost.com
/servlet/Satellite?cid=1229868840606&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

The Hamas parliament in the Gaza Strip voted in favor of a law allowing
courts to mete out sentences in the spirit of Islam, the London-based Arab
daily Al Hayat reported Wednesday.

According to the bill, approved in its second reading and awaiting the
signature of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas as the
Palestinian constitution demands, courts will be able to condemn offenders
to a plethora of violent punitive measures.

Such punishments include whipping, severing hands, crucifixion and hanging.
The bill reserves death sentences to persons who negotiate with a foreign
government "against the Palestinian interest" and engage in any activity
that can "hurt Palestinian morale."

According to the report, any Palestinian caught drinking or selling wine
would suffer 40 lashes at the whipping post if the bill passes. Thieves
caught red-handed would lose their right hand.

The Jerusalem Post could not verify the veracity of the Al Hayat report.