Shas Proposes Expanded Bill to Outlaw Missionary Activity In Israel
The new bill would punish missionaries who attempt to draw any Israeli away from his faith, be that faith Judaism, Islam or Christianity.Some 70 Jews left the faith of their fathers to join the Muslim community, up from 33 converts to Islam in 2005 and 27 such conversions in 2004. The number of Muslims who convert to Judaism was dramatically lower, with only 7 conversions registered with the government by July 2006.
The highest number of Jewish converts to Islam in 2005 was recorded in Jerusalem – 46, as compared to 28 in the Tel Aviv area and similar statistics in Nazareth, Haifa and Akko.
The numbers have been even higher in conversions to Christianity.
Statistics reported by the Interior Ministry indicated that 437 Jews abandoned their faith to “accept Jesus” in 2003, rising to 884 converts to Christianity in 2004 and 733 in 2005.The existing law mandates six months’ imprisonment on those who attempt to persuade Israeli minors to leave their faith or who perform a conversion ceremony on the children and teens.
The current legislation also imposes a five year jail term and/or a fine on anyone who offers money or other goods to persuade an individual under age 18 to convert to another faith.
It does not, however, outlaw missionizing to adults, a deficiency that would be corrected by the new law.
FULL STORY atShas Wants Stiffer Law against Missionaries
(IsraelNN.com) The Shas Sephardic religious party, whose spiritual leader is Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, has proposed a bill providing that would set a one-year prison term for missionaries. The bill comes on the heels of a report that 70 Israelis are expected to convert to Islam this year.
Shas emphasized that the bill does not contradict the right of freedom of religion and simply prevents people from harassing those who live according to their faith.Shas seeks harsher punishment for missionariesLed by Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, party proposes bill to completely forbid proselytism in Israel, sentence violators to one year in prison.
A war on missionaries was declared Tuesday when Shas faction head MK Yakov Margi proposed a bill stating that Israel's laws against proselytism should be aggravated.
Backed by six other faction members and in concordance with Shas' spiritual leader, Rabbi Ovadia Yosef's instructions, Margi proposed the sentence for preaching conversion should be one year imprisonment.
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