SWC Statement on the Kidnapping and Slaying of 28-year-old Chabad Shaliach Rabbi Zvi Kogan

November 24, 2024

The Simon Wiesenthal Center (SWC) denounces the kidnap and slaying of 28-year-old Chabad Shaliach Rabbi Zvi Kogan. "This anti-Semitic murder will not go unanswered. Today, there is a Jewish state of Israel which will track down the murderers and those who stand behind the attack. Those seeking to destroy our people and the State of Israel will fail”, said Rabbi Abraham Cooper, the Simon Wiesenthal Center’s Global Advocate. 

Rabbi Cooper also said: "This wonderful young person who helped bring people together in Dubai and Abu Dhabi represented a threat to the genocide-seeking Iranian regime and their terrorist proxies. We commend the heroism and faith of all Chabad emissaries around the world and trust that the UAE will do everything in its power to continue to be a beacon of mutual respect among all Abrahamic faiths and will help bring the perpetrators of this heinous and diabolical act to justice." 

SWC also urges world leaders and faith leaders in the US, across the Gulf and beyond to publicly denounce Rabbi Kogan’s murder.

For further information, please email Michele Alkin, Director of Global Communications at malkin@wiesenthal.com or Erik Simon at esimon@wiesenthal.com, join the Center on Facebook, or follow @simonwiesenthal for news updates sent directly to your Twitter feed. 

The Simon Wiesenthal Center is an international Jewish human rights organization. It holds consultative status at the United Nations, UNESCO, the OSCE, the Council of Europe, the OAS, and the Latin American Parliament (PARLATINO).