The new female haredi party B’Zhutan has already been threatened with excommunication and other forms of backlash by members of the haredi community, to the point that Deputy Attorney General Dina Zilber has decided to get involved. Zilber on Thursday sent a letter to the Central Elections Committee chairperson, judge Salim Joubran, responding to the societal pressure being directed at the party’s three founders Ruth Kolian, Noa Erez and Karen Mozen. “One of the rabbis identified with (the haredi party) United Torah Judaism published statements about women who back a party that is not led by ‘gedolei Yisrael’ (leading rabbis – ed.),” wrote Zilber. Elaborating, she continued “according to the publication, a woman who acts in opposition to the rabbi’s orders will have her ketuba (marriage contract – ed.) removed from her, her income will be harmed (it will be forbidden to study at her educational institutions and to buy products from her), and her children will be removed from institutions of study.”
“I hereby bring to your attention that in these days the state attorney is investigating the criminal aspects that apparently emerge from the publications,” stated Zilber. “A threat on haredi women not to exercise their right to vote that is given to them as citizens of the state is an act that must not be allowed.”
Indicating the steps ahead, she noted “therefore the more that the charges are verified, this invalid act must be strictly condemned, while passing a clear message to all parties and the public about the indecency and criminal ramifications that may accompany it.”
Full Article: State May Tackle Threats on Female Haredi Party – Inside Israel – News – Arutz Sheva.