A Palestinian human rights group in the Gaza Strip has denounced Hamas police forces for a string of recent arrests of youths whose hair styles they deemed dishonorable.

The Palestinian Center for Human Rights called on Gaza's prosecutor to investigate the incidents, calling them violations of rights and privacy. The group sent a letter to the Palestinian government in Gaza, urging it to respect individuals' rights to live in dignity and freedom.

According to eyewitness testimony that came to the attention of the rights group, police carried out a number of raids across Gaza City last weekend. The rights group reported that many youths were detained for "unbecoming conduct," and that police explained to them their hair styles, including long hair, or manner of dress had prompted their arrest.

In some cases, the youths were reportedly beaten by police or were forced to have their hair cut. They were also warned not to repeat what police deemed their "unbecoming outward appearance."

A Hamas police spokesman denied that this was an orchestrated campaign, but said that police had received several complaints from school principals, who apparently claimed some youths had been loitering in the streets and harassing female students. He added that the arrests were aimed at minimizing this phenomenon, particularly in public places.

The police official denied reports of excessive use of force, but he did not deny reports that some of the youths' hair was cut.

The Hamas leadership in Gaza has recently taken steps to strengthen Islamic codes of behavior, including segregating boys and girls in private schools and forbidding women athletes from participation in a marathon planned for Wednesday, sponsored by UNRWA.

Hamas officials insist women's participation in the marathon violates Islamic principles, even though dozens of Palestinian women have taken part in a Gaza marathon planned as a solidarity march with the Palestinian people and in collecting donations for humanitarian aid.



Open gallery view Ayman al-Sayed, 19, right, and his friend Mohammed Hanouna, 18, left, in Gaza City, Sunday, April 7, 2013. Al-Sayed said his shoulder-length hair was shorn by Hamas police. Credit: AP