GAZA, Nov. 5 (Xinhua) -- Hamas authorities on Thursday asked several educational institutions in southern Gaza Strip to segregate males and females in compliance with Islamic norms.

    The call appeared on a notification signed by Police General-Directorate in Rafah town, ordering private social and educational centers to sign a form demanding their commitment of Islamic and Palestinian traditions and preventing smoking.

    The police threatened to impose about 1,300 U.S. dollars in fine to those who do not commit to "inform the police about suspected students or infracting decency."

    The decision targets small organizations that give private lessons to improve the students' performance in schools.

    Hanin Abu-Nahla, whose Sharek Youth Forum received the order, says her organization "is not only an educational institute, and its' activities includes workshops and training courses."

    "We don't intend to sign the illegal form," she told Xinhua. "We will not be informers for the police, and we will never ask students to bring good conduct and behavior certificate", said Abu-Nahla.

    The form, which included spaces for the organization owner's files, did not detail the traditions and values that the institutions must maintain.

    Ihab al-Ghussein, the interior ministry spokesman, said he has nothing to say on the issue, adding that his ministry was verifying it.

    The move appears to be the last in a series of decisions Hamas has made to apply an Islamic lifestyle in the Gaza Strip.

    Previous decision included forcing lawyers and high school female students to wear long, loose uniforms with head covers and preventing women from riding behind men on motorcycles.

    Hamas took control of the coastal enclave in 2007 after routing Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas's secular Fatah party.