UAE Sentences 3 Uzbek Nationals to Death for Murder of Israeli Chabad Emissary: Report
Abu Dhabi (Quds News Network)- The United Arab Emirates has reportedly sentenced three Uzbek nationals to death after they were convicted of murdering a Chabad emissary in the country.
Israeli officer Rabbi Zwevi Kogan, affiliated with the Givati Brigade and the Chabad movement, was found dead in the UAE in January days after being reported missing. The incident heightened the global rejection of Israel’s atrocities amidst the genocide in Gaza and war crimes in Lebanon.
Olympi Tohirovich, 28; Mahmoudjon Abd al-Rahim, 28; and Azizbek Kamilovich, 33, were arrested in Turkey shortly after the murder and later extradited to the UAE, according to Israel’s Ynet news.
Details of the Case
Rabbi Zvi Kogan, a Moldovan colonizer in Israel and a Chabad emissary, lived in Abu Dhabi and managed a business in Dubai. According to Israeli Channel 12, his body was discovered by Emirati security forces following a days-long search after he went missing.
Despite Kogan’s connections to the Givati Brigade and the Chabad movement, UAE authorities initially described him as a Moldovan citizen, emphasizing their ongoing support for his family.
Israeli media outlets, including Yedioth Ahronoth and Channel 13, reported that suspicions centered on Iranian involvement, highlighting a growing trend of accusations against Iran.
Involvement in Terrorist Group
Kogan’s death has drawn attention to the Chabad movement, a global Hasidic Jewish organization linked to Israeli settler terror activities. The group promotes illegal Israeli settlement in Palestinian areas such as the West Bank and Gaza, aligning with the ideology of “Greater Israel.”
Chabad has a visible presence in the UAE, offering kosher food and religious services to Israelis, and gaining support for Israeli military attacks and settlements.
During Israel’s Gaza genocide, Chabad raised funds for the military and advocated for the resumption of settlements in Gaza. The organization’s symbols, including the “Moshiach” banner, were prominently displayed on Israeli military vehicles during the genocide.
Reports of their sentencing circulated on social media in recent days, including a recording posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, in which one of the men allegedly informs his mother and sister of the death sentence. “All three of us received the death penalty,” the man says in the recording. “On this holy night, I want to tell you something else — trust in Allah. Ask people to forgive us and to be satisfied with us.” His mother and sister are heard weeping during the conversation, as he urges them to “be patient and pray to Allah for us.”
Until now, there had been no official confirmation of the sentences. Authorities in the UAE have not publicly stated a motive for the killing. Israel claims it was a terrorist act motivated by antisemitism.
