Hamas Bars Women From Gaza Marathon
Hamas' decision to bar women from UNRWA's annual Gaza marathon might have more to do with politics than religion, Abeer Ayyoub reports.
![Palestinian runner Maslaha stretches as she practises at a field belonging to her family near Nablus Palestinian runner Worood Maslaha, 20, stretches as she practises with her trainer Saher Jura (unseen) at a field belonging to her family in the West Bank village of Asira Ash-Shamaliya near Nablus March 27, 2012. Four Palestinians will participate in the London Olympics and joining Maslaha will be Gaza runner Bahaa al-Farra, Cairo-based swimmer Ahmed Jabreel and swimmer Sabeen Kharyoon from Bethlehem. Picture taken March 27, 2012. REUTERS/Ammar Awad (WEST BANK - Tags: SPORT OLYMPICS ATHLETICS) - RTR3001Q](/sites/default/files/styles/article_hero_medium/public/almpics/2013/03/1-RTR3001Q.jpg/1-RTR3001Q.jpg?h=2d235432&itok=UQ-DnZTF)
Hamas has once again come under fire over its attempted Islamization of Gaza, after the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) cancelled its annual marathon on Tuesday due to the Islamist rulers' barring women from participating.
UNRWA confirmed in a statement released Tuesday that the "disappointing decision follows discussions with the authorities in Gaza who have insisted that no women should participate.”