The Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates to the United States, Yousef Al Otaiba, released a statement today in response to the tragic murder of Rabbi Zvi Kogan, the Chabad emissary to Abu Dhabi, in the UAE.
In his statement, Al Otaiba expressed that Rabbi Kogan’s death was “a crime against the UAE.” He remarked, “Today the UAE mourns for Rabbi Zvi Kogan. Our thoughts are with his family, friends and community over his senseless death.”
The UAE Ambassador further emphasized the severity of the crime, stating, “Zvi Kogan’s murder was more than a crime in the UAE – it was a crime against the UAE. It was an attack on our homeland, on our values and on our vision.”
He continued by reinforcing the UAE’s stance on inclusivity and peace, saying, “In the UAE, we welcome everyone. We embrace peaceful coexistence. We reject extremism and fanaticism of every kind. We honor Zvi Kogan’s memory by recommitting ourselves to these values.”
Al Otaiba concluded with a strong pledge to uphold the UAE’s principles of diversity and tolerance: “Now, we are more determined than ever to protecting and sustaining the Emirates as a shining and enduring example of diversity, acceptance and peace.”
Earlier that same day, the UAE’s Ministry of Interior revealed that three individuals suspected of being involved in the murder of Rabbi Kogan had been arrested.
The Ministry explained that the authorities took swift action after the victim’s family reported him missing, assembling a specialized search and investigation team. This led to the discovery of Rabbi Kogan’s body, the identification of the suspects, and their subsequent arrest. Legal procedures are currently underway, and more details will be shared once the investigation is complete.
Meanwhile, the intelligence platform Intelli Times published a report suggesting that Iran may be behind the killing. According to the report, Iran has recently established a terrorist group made up of Uzbek activists of Shiite-Iranian descent, which could be responsible for Rabbi Kogan’s murder.
The report identified Muhammad Ali Burhanov, a Tajikistan-born terrorist leader, as the head of this group, which is reportedly linked to the Iranian Quds Force. Unit 400, led by Burhanov, allegedly operated in Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan with the intention of targeting Jewish and Israeli interests. This unit has been involved in several documented attempts in recent months to carry out such attacks.
Burhanov is said to have been educated at a Tehran-based campus, which is known for recruiting activists globally to support Iranian intelligence operations. His terrorist group also reportedly included members of the Hezbollah Brigades, a militia backed by Iran and active in Iraq.
{Matzav.com}