Hamas shaves year off inmates' sentences for memorizing Koran - Haaretz

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Last update - 20:21 06/08/2007

Hamas shaves year off inmates' sentences for memorizing Koran

By The Associated Press

Inmates in the Gaza Strip's main prison can now reduce their sentences by one year if they memorize five chapters from the Koran, Islam's holy book, the prison's governor announced Monday.

The prison, controlled by the militant Hamas movement since the group's violent takeover of the Gaza Strip in June, holds 350 prisoners, 30 of whom are on death row.

The new scripture program seeks to encourage prisoners to behave according to the Koran's law, prison governor Col. Abu al-Abed Hamid, said in a statement.

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Most of the inmates were sentenced before Hamas took power, for crimes ranging from murder to corruption to collaborating with Israel.

The traditionally male-dominated Hamas also announced its intention to add 100 female officers to the Gaza police force. They would supervise women prisoners and help in police actions when women must sometimes be present to search other women, said Gen. Tawfiq Jaber, the acting police chief.

Jaber added that a number of women have already applied for jobs and that new recruits would be selected and trained soon.

Hamas pledged to bring law and order to the chaotic Gaza Strip after wresting control of the area from the rival Fatah movement.

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1.	Confirmation of Hamas as islamic, not palestinian, organization	20:52	\|	Voice of Reason	06/08/07

2.	Resocialisation	21:45	\|	Fritz	06/08/07

3.	How much time off for reciting TS Elliot`s Wasteland from memory	21:54	\|	Joel Weltman	06/08/07

4.	Next Step - An Early Pardon	22:32	\|	J of Hollywood	06/08/07

5.	3 Joel Weltman too depressing a thought,as bad as The Hollow Men,	22:34	\|	lakshmi	06/08/07

6.	We are Islamic and Palestinian	22:39	\|	American Muslim	06/08/07

7.	memory, the prime radiant of existance...	22:45	\|	Akiva Patysh	06/08/07

8.	Those Crazy Muslims!	23:24	\|	Paulo	06/08/07

9.	Voice of Reason(?)	23:37	\|	GS	06/08/07

10.	Alllaahuu Akabrrrrrrrrrrr.... can I go home now?	01:02	\|	T. Rerorist	07/08/07

11.	outrageous	02:03	\|	Omar	07/08/07

12.	To #6 : American Muslim	02:04	\|	B	07/08/07

13.	GS, Tell Me Something	03:20	\|	Brad	07/08/07

14.	American Muslim	03:58	\|	Greg	07/08/07

15.	What is the deal for learning the Bible by heart?	08:35	\|	PETER SM	07/08/07

16.	And if those prisoners don`t learn the Koran in jail	17:49	\|	Jake	07/08/07

17.	reduced sentences for parrots	21:17	\|	frenz	09/08/07

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