Hamas to legalize Salafi party

The Hamas-run government in Palestine's Gaza Strip will legalize a Salafi party for the first time since it took power in 2006, an interior ministry spokesman said Saturday.

“We met today with the founders of the Salafi An-Nur party and briefed them about legal procedures they have to follow before they officially announce their party,” said Islam Shahwan.

He added that freedom of expression and the right to establish political parties and other organizations would be “guaranteed” to everybody.

Earlier this week, a spokesman for An-Nur accused Hamas of obstructing the party's establishment, claiming that the ruling Islamists had gathered An-Nur's founding committees for questioning on the same day the party was set to start operating.

Last month, Gaza authorities arrested 20 Salafi militants and stripped them of rockets and light weapons.

An-Nur has said it would work towards implementing Sharia law in the besieged territory.

(Ma'an, Al-Akhbar)