Ze’ev Frank, who is affiliated with the fanatic sikrikim sect was released from jail by the Jerusalem District Court on Monday. He faces a multi-count indictment alleging that he verbally assaulted a woman, calling her a highly inappropriate slur, as well as spitting at her. He also was charged with resisting arrest. He remains under house arrest.
Not long after his release, Frank began documenting the treatment of police during his incarceration, the beatings he endured while being held in custody. He wrote a letter to the media, speaking of how he was beaten and compelled to remain in a cell with Shabbos desecrators who refused to turn off the television on Shabbos.
In his letter, he describes the incident that led to his arrest, insisting that on the motzei Shabbos, he was near Sonnenfeld Street at about 20:00 when a woman walking on the street came close to him, adding she was not dressed modestly. He admits telling her that her dress code was unacceptable, after which he continued walking, stating “I heard shouts of ‘HaDarat Nashim’ (demeaning women) and the rest of the story is known to all of us”.
Attorney Yair Nehorai explains that his client believed the shouts were coming from a number of chilonim, and he did not hang around to find out.
Frank adds that between his arrest and their arrival at the Russian Compound detention center, he was punched by an officer repeatedly, knocked to the ground. After falling to the ground he describes how he was kicked by police as well.
As a result of his letter, the B’Yosher international chareidi civil rights organization has sent a letter to Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein alleging the arrest was illegal based on false testimony given by police assigned to the Jerusalem station, Chadrei Chareidim reports. The organization is demanding the suspension of the policemen involved pending the outcome of an investigation into the allegations.
Jerusalem Police spokesman Shmulik Ben-Ruby released a statement to the media denying the allegations, insisting there was no brutality.
The indictment against Frank also refers to an incident that allegedly occurred on March 20, 2011, when he entered the Ohr Chaim book store in Meah Shearim and approached a woman who was there with a small child. He shouted at them, causing the child to become hysterical. An employee threw him out but he returned a few minutes later, with reinforcements. Frank and his accomplices began harassing shoppers.
The indictment also speaks of another alleged incident, this one on September 20, 2011, at 10:15. This takes place at 37 Ein Yaakov Street in the capital, when Frank called a policeman “Nazi”, shouting at him “Get out of here. You have no business here!”
The third count addresses the incident near Sonnenfeld Street, with the allegations stating Frank did not just speak with the woman, but spat at her and ordered her to leave the area in a threatening tone.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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12 Responses
Israeli police are clearly being non-discriminatory. They treat anyone they disapprove of the same way, be they Jewish or Arab. One might argue whether a discussion of “police brutality” belongs on YWN, since the issue is not that they are polite to everyone else they arrest.
“sikrikim sect” – SECT?? Who is their leader? DO they have distinct religious beliefs. Do they have a special way of davening or dressing or wearing tefillin? Are they even organized?
I’ld such that perhaps the word “gang” might be more appropriate, or at most “faction” or “party”.
Why don’t you post this video and let your readers decide for themselves. http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=video&cd=2&sqi=2&ved=0CDsQtwIwAQ&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3Dj1zZVCHjayk&ei=g6UNT47QEInB0QGH6eWACA&usg=AFQjCNH8qQcnG_QXPq2nT6NIbnxfpQYG5w
Akuperma, the Israeli police are VERY discriminatory. They might treat everyone badly, but they treat charedim worse. And I WISH they would treat arabs badly also, but I think they’re scared to!
IF it is true. he got a taste of his own medicine
I have to agree with straightshooter (#4). IF it is true, he got what he deserved, including a miserable Shabbos with TV. Now he knows what it’s like to have strictures FORCED upon you. Maybe he should be told that old adage: you catch more bees with honey than with vinegar.
“…the Israeli police are VERY discriminatory. They might treat everyone badly, but they treat charedim worse. And I WISH they would treat arabs badly also, but I think they’re scared to!” Paranoic, idiotic shtuss…if you think Arabs are treated better than anyone in Israel you need your heads examined. Poor, poor mistreated Chareidim…I could spit!
Why do you call them “sikrikim”? The Eidah has published a public letter clearly backing those in jail. Face the facts there is no such thing as Sikrikim. It is the Eidah plain and simple.
Three alleged incidents of incitement and he is completely innocent according to the EIDAH, we are in for lots of trouble now…
There is a clip that was shown in court that he didn’t interact with the women, and how the police arrested him brutally
You judge cases without the facts, copy from kikar which isn’t a chardi site and give american to believe all the stories they have to sell
These are three separate issues:
1. Are the Israeli police excessively brutal?
2. Is the individual in question guilty of the crimes for which he was arrested (and is the Israeli criminal justice insufficiently concerned with guilt or innocence in political cases)
3. Is the Israeli criminal justice system discriminating against hareidim (if they also beat up and falsely accuse other people, e.g. Arab nationalists, then they are merely boorish and tyrannical, but not discriminatory).
There are few people I hate more then the Israeli police! I saw with my own eyes their acts and have been beaten by them as well! True there are probably good police as well, but then again there are good arabs as well!