Subscribe to Print Edition | Sun., June 01, 2008 Iyyar 27, 5768 | | Israel Time: 09:55 (EST+7)
Haaretz israel news English
web haaretz.com
  Back to Homepage
Rosner's Domain
Diplomacy
Defense Jewish World Opinion National
Print Edition
Advertising
Books Peres Conference Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File
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  
     
    Bad immigrant
    Hezbollah spy said he acted as a 'Lebanese patriot and a Muslim.'
    When (he's) in Rome
    Israel to launch PR campaign against Ahmadinejad visit to UN summit in Rome.
      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
      56.   elior chen 07:43  |  anonymous 01/06/08
     Read & React
    Barak and Olmert delay cabinet vote on Gaza Strip cease-fire
    Responses: 18
    Hezbollah spy set for release: I acted as a Muslim and a patriot'
    Responses: 14
    Israel urges EU: Show 'caution' in contacts with Damascus
    Responses: 9
    Olmert: I won't block primaries; Kadima seeks early vote
    Responses: 10
    Obama quits his church over pastor's racially charged views
    Responses: 3


    More Headlines
    09:44 Ex-minister and journalist Yosef Lapid dies at 77
    09:47 Olmert says won't block primaries; Kadima seeks early vote
    09:17 IDF soldier moderately wounded by Palestinian fire in south Gaza
    08:02 Barak and Olmert delay cabinet vote on Gaza Strip cease-fire
    09:10 Obama quits his church over pastor's racially charged views
    08:28 Israel urges EU: Show 'caution' in contacts with Damascus
    07:47 Arab birth rate on decline in Jerusalem
    08:04 Crown Heights locals fear race riots
    09:19 Education Minister comes up with booster plan for Arab schools
    03:38 Islamic-era skeletons 'disappeared' from Elad-sponsored dig
    06:18 Researchers' complaints ignored over anthrax vaccine problems
    09:30 Hezbollah spy set for release says acted as 'Muslim and patriot'
    06:20 2009 budget deadlocked by Olmert investigations
    Previous Editions
    Special Offers
    Advertisement
    Dead Sea Products
    Buy Dead Sea mineral skin care and beauty products. Coupon code Haaretz for 10% off.
    Jerusalem of Gold
    Luxury apartments in Jerusalem's finest location
    Your vacation starts here
    Israel Travel Center Guaranteed Lowest Rates
    Istudy
    Learn Hebrew in 3 months
    The Terraces
    Your Ultimate Coastal Address On Nitza Boulevard, North Netanya
    Together Celebrating Israel's 60th
    The Jewish Agency and You - together making history
    Pardes Institute Summer Sessions
    http://www.pardes.org.il/
    Free the Palestinians from:
    Corrupt Kleptocracy, Tyrannical Theocracy, Abysmal Anarchy
    Fattal Hotel Chain
    Perfectly located hotels on best resorts of Israel.
    ISRAEL BONDS Build Israel
    Israel bonds - a multi-purpose way to celebrate Israel's 60th
    Eldan Rent a Car
    Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations
    Junkyard
    Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt
    Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Underground | Site rules |
    Real Estate in Israel
    Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.
    © Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved