Dozens of police officers raided several locations in Yavne’el on Thursday morning as part of an ongoing investigation into suspected marriages involving minors in violation of Israeli law. Sixteen minors and adults from their immediate circles were detained for questioning during the operation.
According to police, investigators suspect that some of those involved were married recently despite being under the legal age, while in other cases preparations were already underway for allegedly illegal wedding ceremonies.
Thursday’s raids are the latest stage in an investigation that police have been conducting for several months into the alleged practice, which authorities say is occurring within a small, closed community centered primarily in Yavne’el.
Several weeks ago, Northern District police detained more than 20 additional suspects in the town as part of the investigation into alleged underage marriages.
Police say those involved have developed methods intended to make the ceremonies difficult for authorities to locate or document. According to investigators, some weddings are held during the morning hours with only a small number of participants, while the location of the ceremony is kept secret until shortly beforehand.
Authorities also allege that photography and the use of cellphones or other electronic devices are sometimes prohibited during the ceremonies in an effort to prevent evidence of the marriage from being recorded.
According to police, in some cases a larger gathering is held after the religious marriage ceremony, attended by relatives and numerous guests. That subsequent celebration is publicly presented as an “engagement party,” authorities said.
Police said the investigation is continuing in cooperation with other law-enforcement and welfare agencies. Authorities said the operation is aimed at preventing additional underage marriages and determining the involvement of each of the suspects.
Police added that they will continue taking action against offenses that harm minors and other vulnerable individuals, including cases in which minors are married in violation of the law.
{Matzav.com}
