(Jerusalem Post) The Jerusalem Rabbinical Court has issued a decision instructing the Egged bus company to fire one of its employees within 30 days because of his refusal to grant a divorce to his wife.

Even before the couple in question came to Israel several years ago, the husband had been violent toward his wife and he continued his physical attacks on her—and their child—once they had immigrated as well, leading to police intervention on at least one occasion.

Three years ago the woman filed for divorce, but her husband wanted to reconcile so an agreement was reached to try this process, including a commitment by the husband to cease being violent toward his wife and child.

He failed to stand by this commitment, and after another year of violent assaults by the husband, the woman left home and requested that divorce proceedings continue.

The rabbinical court issued a decision obligating the husband to grant a divorce but he refused to accede to the court’s decision.

The woman’s legal representative subsequently sought to implement a law that negates a person’s rights to be employed in a state-funded company. Following a legal request she made to the Jerusalem Rabbinical Court, the rabbinical judges adjudicating the case ruled last week to implement this law and instructed Egged to fire the husband within 30 days.

A spokesman for Egged said in response, “I do not respond to rabbinical rulings.”