[13/December/2008]

AMRAN, Dec. 13 (Saba) - Investigations with the killer of a Yemeni Jew in the district of Raida in Amran province have been completed and the case file would be referred to judicial authorities within the next two days, Police director in the district has said.

The newsyemen.net quoted police director Ahmed Yahya al-Suraihi as saying that Abdul Aziz al-Ubadi, 40, had confessed to committing the murder but showed no remorse as he said that he killed Masha Yaesh Bin Yahya Yahuda for the sake of Allah.

In relation to the incident, deputy minister of Interior Saleh Hussein al-Zouari has instructed to hold eight persons in connection with the killing.

The order came after one of the victim relatives claimed that eight persons were involved in the murder of Masah Yaesh Bin Yahya Yahuda, 28.

During investigations al-Ubadi said that he warned the Jews in the area through a message telling them they must either embrace Islam, leave the country or be killed, al-Suraihi said.

On Thursday morning, in a market in the area, al-Ubad met with Yahuda, the brother of the grand rabbi of Jews in the province, and held a conversation after which he shoot dead Yahuda.

Reasons for the murder might be due to mental illness as al-Ubadi tow years ago killed his wife the case which ended with tribal reconciliation, al-Suraihi said.

Al-Ubadi was also a former pilot in the Yemeni Air Forces but he was dismissed for bad manners and extremist thoughts.

For his part, the grand rabbi of Jews in the province Yousuf Bin Yaesh Bin Yahya denied that the killer had earlier sent a message to them warning them of what he said in investigations.

The rabbi claimed all Jews in the two district of Raida and al-Souk al-Jadeed suffer many violations and continuous attacks.

He said that he filed several complaints about this to tribal elders and officials in the area but all went in vein, saying all people are unable to protect us.

" The situation of Jews has more worsened as my brother was killed in the daylight, in a market before the eyes of many people, but none was moved." The rabbi said.

He said Jews are prevented from carrying weapons and wearing the traditional danger Jampyah.

He urged President Ali Abdullah Saleh to take actions to protect Jews as they are free non-Muslims.

" If the government can't do something for us, so.. pay for our properties and help us leave the country." The rabbi noted.

The rabbi said Jews are maltreated in the area and people inspect their homes and investigate their guests.

Sometimes they are beaten and threatened, but no official bodies do anything to help them, he added.

Some of the relatives of the victim have arrived from outside to pay respects and further relatives are expected to arrive later.

But the date for the funeral has not been set yet in fears that other murders could be committed towards the arriving relatives.

However, resources expected the funeral may take place after the Jew Holiday, Saboot.

The funeral will take place amid tight security in coordination between security authorities in the province and the Jew Organization at the US embassy in Sana'a.
FR