Three Uzbek nationals arrested for the abduction and murder of Rabbi Zvi Kogan, prompting reactions from Israeli officials and raising alarms about antisemitism in the region.
U.A.E. Detains Trio Linked to Murder of Rabbi Kogan
U.A.E. Detains Trio Linked to Murder of Rabbi Kogan
Authorities address concerns over security of Jewish community following a tragic incident in Dubai.
The United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.) has confirmed the arrest of three Uzbek nationals connected to the kidnapping and murder of Rabbi Zvi Kogan, an Israeli-Moldovan religious leader whose tragic death has sent shockwaves through the country's small Jewish community. The announcement, made on Monday, highlights the authorities' ongoing efforts to investigate this shocking incident.
The U.A.E.'s interior ministry identified the suspects as Olimboy Tohirovich, Makhmudjon Abdurakhim, both aged 28, and 33-year-old Azizbek Kamilovich. Pictures of the suspects, captured blindfolded and handcuffed, were included in the official release. While investigators are working to clarify the circumstances surrounding the crime, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the act, labeling it “an abhorrent antisemitic terrorist attack.”
Rabbi Kogan, 28 years old, was last seen in Dubai and was reported missing on Thursday. His abandoned car was discovered in Al Ain, Abu Dhabi's bordering city with Oman. Tragically, his body was unearthed just days later, raising significant concerns for the safety of the Jewish population in the Emirates.
Known for his role in the Chabad-Lubavitch movement, Rabbi Kogan managed a kosher supermarket within the affluent Al Wasl road section of Dubai. His service to the community made him a prominent figure, and sources suggest he might have been targeted due to his visibility. An Israeli Foreign Ministry representative expressed hope that a forensic examination of the rabbi’s remains would be conducted promptly, facilitating his return to Jerusalem for burial.
Since the establishment of formal ties between the U.A.E. and Israel through the 2020 Abraham Accords, there has been a modest influx of Israeli nationals residing in the Emirates. The U.A.E. has positioned itself as a bastion of tolerance, recently inaugurating its first synagogue in decades as part of the Abrahamic Family House interfaith initiative.
The crime has drawn sharp condemnation, with Yousef al-Otaiba, the U.A.E.’s ambassador to the United States, asserting that the murder constitutes “a crime against the U.A.E.” As investigations proceed, the international community watches closely, mindful of the implications for religious coexistence in the region.
