Two private actions over get refusals

V TWO MORE women have launched private prosecutions against their former husbands for withholding a get.

The cases are the latest attempt to use the secular courts to help agunot, or “chained women”, who cannot remarry according to Jewish law unless they have a religious divorce.

Lawyers first used a six-year-old law against controlling and coercive behaviour last year when a man gave his wife a get rather than risk jail.

Rivkah Abayahoudayan, who was civilly divorced from her husband John in 2002, has accused him of preventing her “obtaining a get”. It has been sent to trial to Harrow Crown Court.

A similar action brought by Caroline Moher against Alan Moher, which alleges he “agreed to a civil divorce but prevented her from obtaining a get…” has been sent for trial to Southwark Crown Court.

Both men have indicated they intend to plead not guilty. According to Jewish law, a get has to be given willingly by a man.

A proposed piece of legislation, the Domestic Abuse Bill, which is currently going through Parliament, is expected to make it easier to bring legal action against recalcitrant spouses.