Members of Stamford Hill’s Charedi community have condemned immigration minister, Caroline Nokes, for her “failure” to help a pregnant Israeli woman who was barred from entering the UK.
The woman was refused entry into the UK for Simhat Torah after she and her British husband gave border officials conflicting stories about their marital status.
When asked if she was married, the woman said that she was, because she is according to Jewish law, however her husband said they were not married under UK law.
The woman was detained overnight at Heathrow on Friday, and sent back to Israel on Saturday evening.
The Jewish Community Council of North London has criticised immigration minister’s handling of the case.
According to the JCC, Ms Nokes ignored several attempts made by community leaders to explain what they said was the couple’s “minor mistake”.
Levi Schapiro, head of the JCC, said: “They were a Yiddish-speaking couple and their English was not great and there was some confusion over the questions they were being asked.
“It was a genuine miscommunication that could have been cleared up but Nokes did nothing to help.”
The parents of the couple said they had “been left in utter shock and disappointment by Caroline Nokes and her lack of understanding of Jewish culture".
“Our children entered the country in good faith with excitement and joy looking forward to joining the family for the Sukkot holiday.”
They said the couple, who visit the UK frequently, had no intention of staying and had tickets for a flight back to Israel on October 4.
Mr Schapiro said: “The family was ripped apart. It was a terrible thing to keep her from celebrating the Jewish holiday with her family.”
He also criticised the treatment of the woman while in detention, saying she was not allowed kosher food and “was only able to eat fruit and vegetables.”
Rabbi Roth, of the Union of Orthodox Hebrew Congregations , described the woman’s treatment was “an outrage.”
A Home Office spokesperson said border officials “reserve the right to refuse entry” to passengers if there are “inconsistencies” in the information they provide.
