Something in common?

On ABC radio's AM program yesterday morning the following was reported. I have quoted most of the interview and you can read the complete transcript here.

Is this so different from what we believe?

TONY EASTLEY: Less than two months after being elected to run the municipal council in the West Bank city of Qalqiliya, the militant group Hamas is being accused of introducing Taliban-style rules on the city. The acting Mayor, who's also a Hamas member, has banned a popular Palestinian festival because it supposedly violates Islamic values. He's told AM that the festival encourages young men and women to mix, and possibly even dance together. Our Middle East Correspondent, Mark Willacy, reports from Qalqiliya.
MARK WILLACY: Under the summer sky in cities and towns across the West Bank this month, Palestinians have been celebrating their culture through traditional song and dance.For seven years the Palestinian International Festival has been a resounding success. But in one West Bank city the show has been cancelled. Two months ago, the people of Qalqiliya elected Hamas members to every seat on the municipal council. And now the council has banned the Palestinian International Festival. Hashem al-Masri is Qalqiliya's acting mayor.
HASHEM AL-MASRI (translated): According to our society the men should be isolated from the women. They shouldn't mix at events like the festival. The festival should respect our Islamic heritage so men and women should not be dancing together.
MARK WILLACY: Qalqiliya is the first major West Bank town to elect Hamas to its council. The largest Palestinian militant group, Hamas's main aim is to establish an Islamic state on all of historic Palestine. Qalqiliya's elected mayor – Hamas activist, Wajih Nazzal – is in an Israeli jail. His stand-in, Hashem al-Masri says the Hamas council is only responding to the will of the people in banning the festival.
HASHEM AL-MASRI (translated): There is only five per cent of the population who want the festival. If you like, you can ask people on the street and more than 90 per cent will tell you they are against the festival.
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MARK WILLACY: Across the West Bank, Palestinians are celebrating their heritage through song and dance. But in Qalqiliya, the Koran takes precedence over traditional culture.This is Mark Willacy in Qalqiliya for AM.