A Jerusalem magistrate slapped heavy penalties on an Arab from Jordan and his West Bank lady friend who were found having sexual intercourse in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in the Old City. Habas Mohammed Abdul Halim, 33, a visitor from Jordan, and Louisa Margaridi, 36, a Brazilian national living in Ramallah, were each sentenced to six months in jail and fined IL 5000. The sentences were tougher than asked for by the prosecution. The magistrate explained the couple’s actions were deeply offensive to religious sensibilities and could result in religious friction if not severely punished.
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
