In a recent development, the United Arab Emirates announced that police have apprehended three Uzbek nationals in connection with the murder of Rabbi Zvi Kogan, an Israeli-Moldovan ultra-Orthodox rabbi based in Dubai. The 28-year-old rabbi, who operated a kosher grocery store in the city, was reported missing last Thursday.
The Interior Ministry of the UAE did not provide a motive for the killing of Rabbi Kogan. The suspects, identified as Olimpi Tohirovic (28), Mahmoud John Abdul Rahim (28), and Azizi Kamilovic (33), were taken into custody. However, it remains unclear whether formal charges have been filed against them.
While the UAE statement did not explicitly mention Iran, there have been speculations linking Iranian involvement in the incident. Iran, which supports Hamas and Hezbollah, has been under scrutiny for its alleged intelligence operations in the UAE. Past incidents involving Iranian kidnappings in the country have raised concerns among Western officials.
The killing of Rabbi Kogan has drawn condemnation from various quarters, with the U.S. National Security Council expressing outrage over the incident. The council described the murder as a 'horrific crime against all those who stand for peace, tolerance, and coexistence.'
Rabbi Kogan's wife, Rivky, who is a U.S. citizen and the niece of Rabbi Gavriel Holtzberg killed in the 2008 Mumbai attacks, is now mourning the loss of her husband. The closure of the Rimon Market, the kosher grocery store managed by Rabbi Kogan, has further highlighted the impact of the tragic event on the local community.
As investigations continue into the circumstances surrounding the killing, the UAE authorities are working to ensure justice is served in this case that has shocked many in the region.
