"Haredi has a chance to win trial only if he removes his kippa"

Storm in ultra-Orthodox circles in New York: The newspaper The New York Daily News published an interview with 51-year-old woman resident of Crown Heights, who served as a member of the jury in the trial of a Haredi yeshiva student, a resident of the neighborhood, who was suspected of inappropriate actions. The crime attributed to the suspect, occurred 10 years ago.

The jury had a dozen members and the indictment was filed by the lawsuit in New York. At the end of the hearing, eleven jury members determined that the student is found guilty, except for one member whose opinion was a minority and speculated that he is innocent.

She says the evidence presented to the jury were faint. According to the American legal procedures, in such a case the decision goes to court. The student is currently awaiting a discussion which will open soon.

During the interview the rewarding member gave the newspaper, she said that she was shocked when a member was influenced by biased and exposed opinions and social stereotypes, as they have decided to charge the ultra-Orthodox, even before the allegations were made in the sides - an illegal move. The jury must not discuss the agenda of a suspect before they finished hearing arguments and sentencing. With this, the woman accused, they behaved unacceptably and shamefully.

"The early decision was solely for the ultra - Jewish appearance of the defendant. These decided that the prey which came into their hands is definitely 'worth' headlines and did not bother to delve into the option of innocence. He is Orthodox, so he was sentenced for a conviction. Evidence is not important in their opinion."

She also said that she asked the defendant's attorney that his client will seek to remove his yarmulke, beard and side locks for the following discussion and in fact any sign that could betray the fact Orthodox. "So there might be a chance, he would win a fair trial," she said.

Comments in an interview strengthen the words of activists working in the redemption of captives, who propose a long time that any visibly Orthodox Jews accused of criminal offense must formulate a plea bargain rather than try to prove his innocence in court. "The chances of an Orthodox being acquitted in court in New York, is negligible," they argue following the sad experience they have accumulated.

'בחדרי' גם ברשתות החברתיות - הצטרפו!