Three of the six haredim and ex-haredim accused of murdering 16-year-old Palestinian boy Mohammad Abu Khdeir by burning him alive will be released to seven days of house arrest Thursday because they reportedly did not play an "active" role in the murder.
Above: Mohammad Abu Khdeir
Court Releases 3 Of 6 Kidnap-Murder Suspects To House Arrest
Shmarya Rosenberg • FailedMessiah.com
Three of the six haredim and ex-haredim accused of murdering 16-year-old Palestinian boy Mohammad Abu Khdeir by burning him alive will be released to seven days of house arrest Thursday because they did not play an "active" role in the murder, Ynet reported.
The decision was made by the Petah Tikva Magistrate's Court earlier today.
In many western countries, being part of a conspiracy that leads to murder, let alone being part of a conspiracy to intentionally murder, especially when that murder is motivated by racial or religious hate, is treated much more seriously than it appears to be in Israel.
Those three suspects deny any involvement in the murder. They are being represented by attorney s from the hard-right-wing Honeinu organization, which provides attorneys for Jews accused of attacking Arabs and of committing other nationalist or racially motivated crimes.
"We're glad that what we claimed about the suspects proved to be true. Three civilians were brutally arrested without having any connection to the act. Regarding the other three suspects, we will respond after we've been allowed to meet them,” Honeinu attorney Benzi Kebler reportedly said.
"I welcome the release and at the same breath express deep sorrow that [Israel’s internal security service commonly known as] the Shin Bet and the police held the three young people under false arrest, knowing well that they have no connection to the suspicions attributed to them," Honeinu attorney Adi Kidar added.
The three suspects who remain in custody will reportedly meet with Honeinu attorneys for the first time late today.
All six were initially barred from speaking with or contacting counsel under Israel’s anti-terrorism laws.
The six suspects reportedly had close ties for many years. All come from Jerusalem or the surrounding area.
One of them, a 30-year-old man who allegedly drove the car during the kidnap-murder, is reportedly “a dominant character” who “has a great degree of influence on others,” Ynet reported. He is till in custody as are two 16-year-old boys who allegedly took active part in the kidnapping and murder.
All six are still accused of being members of a terror organization, being members of a forbidden organization, kidnapping for the sake of murder, the murder of a minor, conspiracy to commit a crime, illegal possession of weapons and ammunition, and committing a crime motivated by racism.
One of the six confessed shortly after being arrest Sunday and implicated the others. Since then two more of the six suspects allegedly confessed, as well.
Police will reportedly send the evidence they have amassed against the six suspects to state prosecutors in the next few days.
Some of the six suspects were sent by the court for psychiatric evaluation.
Abu Khdeir was kidnapped in East Jerusalem’s Beit Hanina neighborhood early last Wednesday near a local mosque. He was forced into the car used for the abduction, tied up, beaten and then burned alive in the Jerusalem Forest just west of the city.
He was allegedly chosen for murder simply because he was an Arab and appeared vulnerable.