Because they’re, horror of horrors, “trying to make a whole generation preoccupied with matters other than jihad and worship.” “Internet cafés in the front line of new Gaza violence,” by Stephen Farrell in the TimesOnline, with thanks to Sr. Soph:
Using political violence between Hamas and Fatah as cover, radical Islamists are bombing internet cafés, pool halls and chemists in Gaza to impose their own brand of fundamentalism.
Cybercafés have been singled out for allegedly allowing customers to download pornography. Chemists have been bombed for selling hallucinogens smuggled from Israel or through tunnels from Egypt, while pool halls are accused of encouraging immoral behaviour. A group calling itself the Swords of Islamic Righteousness is believed to have carried out more than a dozen attacks in recent weeks.
The previously unknown group issued a warning letter late last month threatening to “execute the laws of God”. It claimed responsibility for “shooting rocket-propelled grenades and planting bombs at internet cafés in Gaza, which are trying to make a whole generation preoccupied with matters other than jihad and worship”. The group also claimed unverifiable attacks on unveiled women, music shops and motorists playing loud music.
Many of Gaza’s backstreet internet cafés have closed after the attacks. Many of those still open told The Times that they were nervous about the Islamist threat. Security officials and human rights workers said that disintegrating law and order was also being exploited by gangsters and criminals. Women’s rights groups report an increase in “honour killings” of women suspected of adultery or immoral behaviour.
Read it all.