AN ARAB MAN convicted of rape because he pretended to be a Jew, has received a reprieve against his prison sentence, according to the BBC News.

Sabbar Kashur, 30 was found guilty of “rape by deception” despite having consensual sex with an Israeli woman. Kashur was last month sentenced to 18-months in jail.

Now, the High Court in Israel has granted Kashur 18-months leave in order to appeal against his sentence. Kashur had been under house arrest but has since been released.

The sentence caused outcry in Israel and incredulity in the Arab world. Allegations of racism and paternalism were made against the judges who ruled that it was their duty to protect “the sanctity of the bodies and souls” of innocent victims against criminals.

Kashur, from east Jerusalem Palestine is married with two children, but met the woman by chance in Jerusalem. He told her he was a Jewish bachelor, seeking a long term relationship. 10 minutes later the two were having sex on the roof of a deserted building.

Kashur said he was also considering the possibility of a civil lawsuit against the woman at a later date.