Rabbi Zvi Kogan. CNN
A court in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has sentenced three people to death for the murder of Zvi Kogan, an Israeli-Moldovan rabbi. The court’s decision was announced on Monday by the UAE’s state news agency, WAM. The trial took place in Abu Dhabi Federal Court of Appeals’ State Security Chamber. In addition to the death sentences, a fourth individual involved in the crime was given a life sentence.
The identities of the defendants were not made public, but reports suggest that three Uzbek nationals were arrested in Turkey and later brought back to the UAE in connection with Kogan’s death. Kogan, 28, had been missing since Thursday, sparking an investigation that eventually led to the arrest of the suspects.
According to the court’s findings, the defendants tracked down Kogan and killed him. WAM’s report indicated that the evidence presented in court included detailed confessions from the accused, forensic reports, post-mortem examination results, and testimonies from witnesses. This information painted a clear picture of the crime, including the use of certain instruments in the killing and the kidnapping process.
While the exact motive for the murder remains unclear, the timing of the killing amid the Israel-Hamas conflict has raised questions. The war has sparked widespread anger across the Muslim world, which may have influenced the incident. Despite the ongoing conflict, diplomatic ties between Israel and the UAE remain intact. Israel still operates a consulate in Dubai and an embassy in Abu Dhabi, though tensions persist.
Some Israeli officials have suggested that Iran and its allies could be involved in the murder, referring to it as part of a broader “axis of evil.” However, Iran’s embassy in the UAE denied any involvement. There have been no official claims from the UAE government regarding the motive, though many believe Iran may have some involvement, given its intelligence operations in the region.
Kogan, a member of the Chabad Lubavitch movement, ran a kosher grocery store in Dubai, a city that has attracted many Israelis for both business and tourism since the signing of the Abraham Accords in 2020. The UAE’s Jewish community has grown in recent years, with synagogues and businesses catering to kosher needs. Kogan’s death has shocked the local community, especially as the UAE continues to build its ties with Israel.
The rabbi’s body was returned to Israel for burial. Kogan’s tragic death highlights the ongoing political tensions and the risks faced by individuals in the region. The UAE, a federation of seven emirates, has rare capital punishment cases, but executions often happen quickly after appeals are exhausted. The condemned are typically executed by firing squad.
