Rivlin grants clemency to teen bride who killed abusive husband
As part of special pardons initiative for Israel’s 70th anniversary, president eases sentences for 70 eligible offenders, hails efforts to rehabilitate prisoners
President Reuven Rivlin on Tuesday granted clemency to a woman convicted of murdering her abusive husband, as part of a special pardons initiative for prisoners to mark Israel’s 70th year of independence.
The Bedouin woman, whose identity was not revealed, was sold by her father to a blind man at the age of 16, and then sold a second time to a 47-year-old at the age of 17. Her lawyers said she was routinely raped by both husbands, and suffered severe psychological abuse at the hands of her family.
She has served five years of an 11-year sentence for the murder of her second husband.
A statement from Rivlin’s office said the woman had successfully completed therapy and other treatment programs during her time in prison. The clemency would make her eligible for early release after appearing before the Israel Prisons Service parole board.
Rivlin also granted clemency to a mother of seven who is serving a six-month jail sentence for driving on a revoked license. When the woman appealed for clemency, she said she was forced to drive to work as a cleaner to support her family due to her husband’s illness.
The president’s office said the imprisonment of the mother, a first-time offender, was putting undue strain on the family and worsening their dire economic situation.
Rivlin this week also granted clemency to an IDF veteran injured in the Second Lebanon war who was growing cannabis at home for personal use.
Earlier this year, Rivlin and Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked announced an initiative marking Israel’s 70th anniversary by granting pardons to prisoners meeting specific criteria.
Under the program, nonviolent first-time offenders were eligible for clemency or pardon if they had served at least one-third of their sentence, were victims of abuse, or demonstrated special circumstances. Additionally, to be eligible prisoners must show remorse for their offenses and willingly participate in prison rehabilitation programs.
A statement from Rivlin’s office on Tuesday said his office had already granted 70 requests for clemency or pardon, and were going through another 1,400.
The initiative also saw the criminal records for 15 former and current IDF soldiers who committed offenses before or during their army service expunged.
In a statement, Rivlin said that treating prisoners with compassion and helping them re-enter society showed a nation’s true character. The president said he wanted all of Israel to “extend a helping hand” to those trying to rehabilitate themselves.
“It’s right for us as a people, as a society as well as for [the prisoners] individually,” he said.
Shaked in a statement expressed hope that offenders “would be helped on their return to the straight and narrow.”
The Times of Israel Community.