More than 100 people last night packed out the first meeting of a pressure group fighting a new housing law which penalises Bermudians married to foreigners.

Couples of a variety of ages, politicians and lawyers were among those formulating a plan to protest at the Bermuda Immigration and Protection Amendment Act 2007, which became law in June.

They are angry that the law means Islanders and their expatriate spouses must obtain permission to buy property and can only own one home if the foreign partner does not have Bermudian status. A committee was formed last night, with group leaders proposing a meeting with Labour and Immigration Minister Derrick Burgess to air their concerns. Those present also discussed how they could go about challenging the law.

Ronnie Viera, who is married to a Canadian, organised last night's get-together at the Chamber of Commerce.

"Most people didn't even know that this law had passed," Mr. Viera told the meeting. "Those that knew they were affected — nobody was doing anything about it. Not being one of those people who could afford to do that, I wanted to get a group together.

"There was no public consultation with this. It was slipped through the House and it affects a broad cross-section of the community."

After Mr. Viera threw the floor open to questions and discussions, numerous people told how the law affected them and offered their own suggestions for the way forward.

Lawyer Saul Froomkin said Government could not be criticised for attempting to crack down on the practice of fronting, in which non-Bermudians gain property or land, using Bermudians as a front.

However, he argued: "They have taken a nuclear bomb to destroy an outhouse."

One woman drew laughs from the crowd by observing: "It looks as if Bermudians should not get married. Have children out of wedlock and go and buy as many homes as you want."

Another woman, who said she was getting married soon, said: "If I get married, I lose my house."

One woman suggested: "Can we not look at this from a human rights perspective?"

But a quick reply was called out from the back of the room: "No, because we don't have any human rights in Bermuda."

When the hour-long meeting finished, Mr. Viera said he was delighted with the way it had gone.

"It was very, very good," he told The Royal Gazette. "It shows how much it's affecting people by the various questions that were asked. "The suggestion to approach the Ministry is a good one. It's one I always had in mind anyway. It's not in our interest to butt heads."