Despite the Gaza Strip’s precarious economic situation, Hamas has recently announced that it will impose a new tax on all public officials to help finance Koran study centers across the tiny territory.
The move — which sees a one percent taxation on government employee salaries — is intended to strengthen religious study throughout Gaza, according to Dr. Taleb Abu Sha’r, the Minister for Religious Affairs in the Hamas government.
The move is notable because Koranic centers are considered major bases of support for Hamas — a fundamentalist Islamic movement.
Abu Sha’r, however, says the new levy is just one more way his government helps Gazans who are keen to learn about Islam and its traditions.