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Conservative Gaza stifles female talent

Many talented female singers gave up on their dream of professional singing because of the conservative society in Gaza and Hamas’ clampdown on female performers, whom they deem indecent.
Palestinians look at a large poster depicting singer Mohammed Assaf in Khan Younis, in the southern Gaza Strip, June 20, 2013. Palestinian fans and big business are rallying behind Assaf, a 22-year-old singer from the Gaza Strip, in a final push to vote him the next "Arab Idol" in a TV talent contest choosing a winner in Beirut on Saturday. The Arabic words in the bottom of the poster read: "Vote for the star of Palestine Mohammed Assaf today". REUTERS/Ibraheem Abu Mustafa (GAZA - Tags: SOCIETY ENTERTAINMEN

BEIT HANOUN, Gaza Strip — Khouloud Alian wished she had been gifted with a talent such as drawing or writing — a talent that did not require her to be in direct contact with the public, such as singing.

As a singer, Alian feels that society has been unfair to her, in addition to the clampdown by the previous Hamas government on female singers and performers, which has prevented many from fulfilling their dreams.

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