Israeli authorities have agreed to release an ultra-Orthodox woman
detained on suspicion of child abuse, in a move that may end days of
rioting in the capital.
An Israeli court Friday agreed to allow
the woman to stay at the home of a rabbi, under the condition that she
undergo psychiatric evaluation and pay a $100,000 bail.
The woman is accused of starving her three-year-old child to a weight of seven kilograms.
Her
arrest sparked violent protests in Jerusalem by ultra-Orthodox Jews who
defend the woman and accuse authorities of persecuting the religious
community.
Religious riots flared last month when the city
decided to keep a parking lot open on Saturdays. Orthodox Jews
condemned the move as a desecration of the Sabbath.
The violence has angered secular Jews who describe Israel as a modern, democratic country where religion is a choice.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP and AP.
