Palestine Government Issues Realations on Changes of Religion

(Jewish Telegraphic Agency)

A draft Ordinance to provide notifications of changes of Religious Community has been published in the “Official Gazette.”

The Ordinance stipulates that if a person intends to change his Religious Community and desires legal effect given such change he shall obtain a certificate from the head of the Religious Community which he desires to enter to the effect that he will be received into that Community. He must signify his intention to the District Commissioner of the district in which he resides.

The District Commissioner on being satisfied as to the identity of the applicant and on the production of a certificate from the head of the community which the applicant desires to enter shall register the change of community and shall give the applicant a ## of such registration. A copy of the certificate of registration shall be sent by the District Commissioner to the religious head of the Community which the applicant intends to enter and to the religious head of the Community to which he formerly belonged.

No change of Community of a person under the age of 18 years shall be deemed to have legal effect unless the consent of the parent or guardian of such person has been obtained and is communicated to the District Commissioner. If there ## doubt as to the age of the person the District Commissioner of the district in which he resides in consultation with the local religious authority of the Community which the applicant desires to leave shall decide the matter.

A change of community duly registered under this ordinance shall not affect any liability of the person changing his community which was incurred by him prior to the registration of such change by the District Commissioner.

Any Ottoman Regulations and any ?lations or Notices issued by the Government of Palestine prior to the date of the entry into force of the new Ordinance concerning the change of Religious Community no longer has effect.