Hendon MP Andrew Dismore is hoping his campaign to help Jewish women obtain religious divorces will be successful at the third time of asking.

Mr Dismore's Divorce (Religious Marriages) Bill, which has received the backing of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, passed its first reading unopposed in the House of Commons on Tuesday.

The Bill was re-introduced following the struggle of Susan Zinkin to shame her husband Israel Elias of The Drive, Golders Green, into granting her a religious divorce or "get" after 40 years. Without it, she is unable to enter into other relationships without being stigmatised and any children from subsequent relationships are branded illegitimate in religious terms.

If made law, Mr Dismore's reform would allow judges to withhold a civil divorce from the husband until he has granted his wife the religious divorce. The Bill is due for its second reading tomorrow but Mr Dismore is concerned it may be blocked at this stage, as it has been twice before.

"This is the stage it got blocked at last time by the Tories. I'm more concerned about it getting blocked at the second reading than anywhere else," said Mr Dismore. "It was a full house on Tuesday and it was well received with no objections and I hope we can keep the ball rolling that way."

October 24, 2001 17:22