ALBAWABA- A UAE court has sentenced three individuals to death and a fourth to life imprisonment for the premeditated murder of Moldovan-Israeli Rabbi Tzvi Kogan, allegedly for a terrorist motive.
The Abu Dhabi Federal Court of Appeal issued the verdict on Monday, March 31, 2025, convicting the defendants of killing Kogan in November 2024.
The court ruled that the perpetrators had deliberately targeted and murdered the 28-year-old rabbi, who represented the Chabad-Lubavitch movement, an international Orthodox Jewish organization.
Authorities discovered Kogan’s body in Al Ain, near the Oman border, days after he was reported missing. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the killing as a “heinous act of anti-Semitic terrorism.”
The prosecution presented forensic evidence, witness testimonies, and detailed confessions from the accused, confirming that they had tracked Kogan before carrying out the murder.
The court emphasized that the crime was planned in advance and carried out with intent.
Under UAE law, all death sentences are automatically subject to appeal before the Supreme Federal Court’s Criminal Appeals Division.
In a statement, the UAE Attorney General stressed that the ruling reflects the country’s firm stance against terrorism, upholding the highest standards of justice and fair trial guarantees.
He reaffirmed that the UAE remains committed to protecting people of all religions and ethnicities, ensuring security and stability for all residents.
