Israeli city reportedly bans girls from singing at youth conference

JERUSALEM – An Israeli newspaper says a central city has agreed to a request by an Orthodox religious group to ban girls from singing at a youth conference next week.

The Haaretz daily reported Thursday that the Kfar Sava town council imposed the ban to respect the wishes of the Bnei Akiva religious youth group. Various youth movements are set to participate in the conference.

Strictly Orthodox Jewish men do not listen to women singing for reasons of religious modesty.

Neither Bnei Akiva nor Kfar Sava officials could immediately be reached for comment.

There have been a series of incidents in recent months in which religious extremists have attempted to impose their beliefs on society, most notably a campaign for segregated bus lines.

The drive has sparked outrage among Israel's secular majority.