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Last update - 16:57 07/04/2008 Police to demand extradition of Rabbi believed behind child abuse sect By Uri Blau, Yair Ettinger, Jonathan Lis and Ofra Edelman, Haaretz Correspondents and AP Tags: Canada, Jerusalem police  Israel Police said Monday they will begin extradition proceedings against Rabbi Elior Chen, who fled to Canada shortly after one of his followers was charged with systematic child abuse including burning her toddlers, making them eat feces, and putting them in a suitcase for days. Chen was not charged with anything, but fled as news reports of the Jerusalem mother's detention were circulated, and it appeared she had committed the abuse following instructions from him on child disciplining techniques. During a search of his home Thursday, police found evidence that appears to link the rabbi to the abuse, including journals that document the violence. Advertisement Chen may be meeting other members of the sect in Canada, where the family of one of the members lives, according to a friend of Chen's who is familiar with the group but doesn't belong to it. The friend said Chen fled with Joseph Fisher, whose name was not mentioned in an indictment filed yesterday against the mother of the children suspected of being abused by Chen's followers. The remand of the mother was extended Sunday until April 14. Two of the family's eight children, aged 4 and 5, were hospitalized in serious condition two weeks ago, after Chen allegedly ordered two of his followers to discipline the children by beating, burning, pushing and shaking them, and tying them up as a way of "correcting" their behavior. The 4-year-old remains in a coma. Police suspect that Chen's supporters also doused the children in hot and cold water and broke their bones with hammers and blows. The mother was charged with forcing the children to eat feces, beating them unconscious and locking them up in a suitcase for three days. Jerusalem police also arrested an additional suspect in the case, and have issued a gag order regarding his identity. The Magistrate's Court extended his remand by five days. Chen and three of his supporters allegedly began providing the family with "educational lessons" several months ago. They allegedly kicked the father out of his home and began abusing several of the family's eight children, especially the two youngest. Chen and Fisher left the country legally, and their exit was registered at border control. Afterward, their wives and children went into hiding. The Fisher apartment has been cleared out and its contents have been placed in storage. Police said they do not know the location of Chen's and Fisher's families, but Chen's friend said they were hoping to go to Canada as well and may have already left the country. Chen and his supporters chose Canada in part, the source said, because "the extradition law is tough" there. "Only in very exceptional cases does Canada extradite," he said. Elior Chen's father, Yaakov Chen, told Haaretz he did not know where his son or his son's family was hiding. "I didn't see him, I don't know where he is," he said. "The last time I saw him was three weeks ago, after he had a girl. I went to his home in Upper Betar, gave him a present and that's it. I haven't seen him since. I'm sitting at home and eating my heart out." Related articles: Parents held in case of Jerusalem child abuse U.S. asks Israel to extradite ultra-Orthodox Jew accused of child abuse Court extends remand of Ramle couple suspected of abusing their eight children Welfare Min. data shows 10,000 children at risk of parental abuse Bookmark to del.icio.us   A gentleman's word Olmert tells Haaretz he knows Iran won't have nuclear capacity. Farewell to arms B'Tselem says IDF must ban wide-range shell that killed civilians in Gaza.   1.   misnomer in title 06:27  |  Danny 07/04/08   2.   Abuse 07:29  |  jesse 07/04/08   3.   Rabbi Linked to child abuse flees Israel 07:39  |  Millicent 07/04/08   4.   let`s pray for the child 08:19  |  eliyahu 07/04/08   5.   What Punishment Is Fit For These Animal Parents ? ? 08:24  |  Phil 07/04/08   6.   `considering the possibility of issuing an international warrant" 08:49  |  Joe Sittizen 07/04/08   7.   Re: #1 Mismoner 09:47  |  James 07/04/08   8.   Monster 11:08  |  Dan 07/04/08   9.   Mentally unbalanced 11:25  |  Sherlock Holmes 07/04/08   10.   Rabbi linked to systematic child abuse 11:28  |  Voice of Reason 07/04/08   11.   Who gave him semicha? 11:31  |  Joseph 07/04/08   12.   Ah, yes! The Zaddikim!! 11:33  |  Minuteman 07/04/08   13.   # 12 Minuteman - Amen Brother 11:49  |  SJ 07/04/08   14.   Canada is good friend of Israel... he can hide there 12:11  |  John 07/04/08   15.   Wow,this Rabbi doesnt want "Hashana habaa b`Yirushalayim" 12:40  |  Alan 07/04/08   16.   the rule 12:44  |  amihai 07/04/08   17.   it could have been expected 12:50  |  question 07/04/08   18.   #7 13:51  |  Israel 07/04/08   19.   Where`s the evidence: this is speculation 14:01  |  Vernon Marriott 07/04/08   20.   to all the Haredi-haters 14:37  |  molly 07/04/08   21.   let`s learn from the Holocaust 14:43  |  Wendy 07/04/08   22.   Unfortunately the only reasonable TB is #19 15:08  |  Harry 07/04/08   23.   Response to #22 and others who need proof 15:58  |  Ros 07/04/08   24.   #14 - John - Hide in Canada 16:05  |  Russell 07/04/08   25.   #7 James - Jerusalem 16:15  |  * BEN JABO 07/04/08   26.   to Molly 17:50  |  eva 07/04/08   27.   #23 Ros TA 17:51  |  * BEN JABO 07/04/08   28.   IS RELIGION THE LAST BASTION OF THE MENTALLY ILL? 17:54  |  petra 07/04/08   29.   Disclaim 17:59  |  Edith 07/04/08   30.   The police should check other the other followers families. 18:00  |  Bartley Kulp 07/04/08   31.   The problem is... 18:04  |  Esther 07/04/08   32.   Haredim no better than anyone else 18:04  |  Mike Friedman 07/04/08   33.   Ben Jabo - try getting out more 18:06  |  Sylvie 07/04/08   34.   Re Eva #26 18:11  |  Esther 07/04/08   35.   Criminal 19:08  |  Gustavo 07/04/08   36.   The Real Analysis 19:09  |  james 07/04/08   37.   #20, Molly, correct, and equally applicable to hatred of seculars 19:09  |  newageblues 07/04/08   38.   The mother is responsible 19:49  |  Stacy 07/04/08   39.   The path to G-d is through personal judgment .. 20:53  |  SA 07/04/08   40.   Wendy - General consideration for others would do for me! 21:05  |  SA 07/04/08   41.   #33 Sylvie 22:56  |  * BEN JABO 07/04/08   42.   Are you all idiots? This is no Rabbi !!!! 23:46  |  S Judah 07/04/08   43.   Rabbi behind Child Abuse Sect 00:20  |  ROBOCOP 08/04/08   44.   Please put your focus on the murderers in the IDF ... 00:57  |  Dutch 08/04/08   45.   #43 Demented Dutch - Your needle is stuck 01:25  |  * BEN JABO 08/04/08   46.   Death Penalty 11:40  |  Sherry 08/04/08   47.   If I tell you to feed your kid poop, am I a Haredi Rabbi? 18:38  |  Simeon ben Jacob 08/04/08   48.   Israel doesn`t extradite - it`s a haven for Jewish criminals 21:06  |  Israel_is_Done 08/04/08   49.   #48 Half Baked 01:46  |  * BEN JABO 09/04/08   50.   #49 Half Baked 09:02  |  BOB JEAN 09/04/08   51.   #50 BOB JEAN 23:59  |  * BEN JEAN 09/04/08   52.   Will Israel Extradite Rabbi Avrohom Mondrowitz to USA 05:07  |  World Citizen 10/04/08   53.   #52 World Citizen 01:57  |  * BEN JABO 11/04/08   54.   whats in the religious beliefs of elior chen 17:22  |  dennis 11/04/08   55.   to all the hardi-haters - you were right! 11:52  |  george 18/04/08

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