Child sex abuse royal commission: Jewish victims ‘shunned after making allegations’

AUSTRALIA
ABC News

By Karen Percy and Jade MacMillan

Ultra-orthodox Jews believed it was a sin to report allegations of child sexual abuse to the police, and shunned those who did, a royal commission has heard.

Some victims in Melbourne and Sydney said they were subjected to ultra-orthodox interpretations of Jewish laws which made it a sin to give evidence against fellow Jews to secular bodies, like the police.

At least three people, including a rabbi, have been convicted of multiple offences of sexual abuse at Jewish schools or centres.

Melbourne whistleblower Manny Waks has spoken extensively about how he and his family were ostracised when he first went public in 2011.

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