Ghoulish Haircutter

Gaza's Islamic Hamas government on Thursday banned men from working in women's hair salons, the latest step in its campaign to impose strict Islamic customs on Gaza's 1.5 million people...

The latest measure irked one of the victims of the ban. "Next thing you know, they will ban doctors from treating women, and will only let women treat women," said Barakat al- Ghoul, a 44-year-old hairdresser. "Tomorrow, they will ban everything."

Al-Ghoul, who has cut women's hair for 26 years, said a ban would be devastating. He said he has no other way of making a living.

Islamic tradition forbids women from showing their hair to men who are not their husbands or blood relatives. Until now, though, exceptions were made for the eight known male hairdressers in women's salons in Gaza City.