Families accuse Jerusalem sect of exploitation

Families of women who have joined a secret religious sect in the Jerusalem metropolitan area have accused the leadership of a seminary for girls of engaging in exploitative practices against their relatives.

According to witnesses speaking with Army Radio, women are encouraged to join the sect by the seminary’s rabbi and his wife and then forced to cut ties with their families.

The women are then sent out to work various odd jobs, transferring their wages to the seminary.

Five families that spoke with the media also alleged that the girls were prevented from seeing guests.

One of the women has left the seminary, but the five have not filed a police report against the rabbi and claim that all the women are there of their own accord.

A demonstration against the sect will be held on Tuesday in front of the Knesset by relatives of the women.