6 December 2007 - 11:27Hamas Announces Plans to Turn Jericho Casino into Mosque

Hamas, in one of its first policy actions since it won control of the Palestinian government, has announced plans to close down the only casino gaming center in the Palestinian Authority.

The casino gaming center that is the target of Hamas fury is located in the Jericho Municipality. It is owned by an Austrian casino gaming company, and opened in 1998. The casino has been widely associated with the corruption of the former regime, since PA authorities in the PA were thought to have reaped many of the casino profits.

Hamas legislators told reporters that one of their highest priorities is to close the casino gaming center as soon as possible. Nayef Rajoub, who is the brother of former security chief Jibril Rajoub, is one of those who are leading the protest.

Rajoub and other lawmakers who have taken up the cause say that the casino gaming center may in fact be turned into a mosque. The casino is located on land owned by a Wakf, a special Islamic charity trust- a fact which further enrages its opponents.

Gambling is illegal in Islam, and games of chances are referred to as an infamy of Satan’s handiwork in the Koran.

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