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Hamas blocks solidarity demonstrations in Gaza

Arab World Materials 1 February 2011 06:08 (UTC +04:00)
Hamas authorities prevented demonstrations in the Gaza Strip aimed at showing solidarity with protesters in Egypt, Human Rights Watch said late Monday.
Hamas blocks solidarity demonstrations in Gaza

Hamas authorities prevented demonstrations in the Gaza Strip aimed at showing solidarity with protesters in Egypt, Human Rights Watch said late Monday.

Police arrested six women and threatened to arrest some 20 other would-be demonstrators who arrived at a park in Gaza City in response to a Facebook-planned demonstration, the group said citing witnesses, dpa reported.

Police allegedly ordered the women to sign pledges not participate in unsanctioned demonstrations, witnesses told the human rights group.

"The Hamas authorities should stop arbitrarily interfering with peaceful demonstrations about Egypt or anything else," said Sarah Leah Whitson, Human Rights Watch's Middle East director.

The ruling Islamist group has so far been reluctant to comment on the demonstrations in Egypt demanding the ouster of President Hosny Mubarak.

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