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Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Palestinian Authority to regulate salaried clerics to thwart Hamas

RAMALLAH — The Palestinian Authority is planning to reduce the influence of Hamas in mosques in the West Bank.   

Officials said the PA Religious Affairs Ministry has been drafting regulations on sermons and other activities in the thousands of mosques in the West Bank. They said mosque preachers and other clerics would not be permitted to discuss politics or respond to current events.

"Those who want to mislead the people and become a mouthpiece of this party or that political group should find another place to preach," PA Religious Affairs Minister Jamal Bawatna said.

In a briefing on Feb. 14, Bawatna said the PA was concerned over what he termed the politicization of mosques and religious schools, Middle East Newsline reported. He said his ministry was monitoring mosques and religious schools to prevent Hamas influence.

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"They [Hamas] are misleading worshipers with false slogans pretending to be pro-religion while from they are really for political positions and money," Bawatna said.

The ministry has been paying the salaries of preachers and other clerics in state-supported mosques. Bawatna said many clerics have been dismayed over the ministry's refusal to address Hamas and other political issues.

"Imams misinterpreted the ministry's silence towards their wrong-doings as weakness," Bawatna said. "Some imams think the government cannot interfere in the affairs of the mosque."

Officials said the PA would crack down on clerics alleged to be using mosques to support Hamas. They said these clerics would face penalties, including the loss of their government salaries as well as dismissal.

"Mosques have a sacred mission, which is teaching worshippers about their religion and faith through the holy Koran and prophet Mohammed's teachings," Bawatna said. "But, they can't be muftis and mouthpieces of parties and groups that pretend to care about religion while they are enemies of that religion because they use it as trade to achieve their own interests and gains."



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