Haredim riot across Israel in protest of slain rebbetzin's autopsy

Haaretz Last update - 19:00 03/07/2008
By Jonathan Lis, Haaretz Correspondent

Several ultra-Orthodox groups rioted across Israel on Thursday in protest of the prospective autopsy of the body of Ziona Samin, who was murdered in her Ashkelon apartment a day before. Police detained eleven protesters for burning tires outside the National Institute of Forensic Medicine in Abu Kabir and trying to enter by force. In Jerusalem, masses of Haredi people barricaded Shivtey Israel Street, set fire to garbage bins and hurled stones at police cars. In Bnei Brak, rioting Haredim blocked Ezra Street.

Ziona Samin, a 65-year-old resident of Ashkelon, was murdered on Wednesday, apparently during a botched robbery. Her husband, Rabbi Yosef Samin, found her tied hand and foot, after apparently being severely battered. No suspects have been arrested.