Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit has ordered police not to continue their investigation into Conservative rabbi Dov Haiyun after he was hauled in by officers before dawn on Thursday for questioning over wedding ceremonies he conducts outside the state-run Chief Rabbinate.
Mandelblit writes in a letter that Haiyun should not be further questioned until police clarify whether his actions raise suspicion of a criminal offense.
Earlier Thursday, the rabbinical court spokesperson, in a statement, accused Haiyun of performing a wedding of a Jew born of an extramarital affair, known as a mamzer.
Haiyun, who has been officiating at non-Orthodox weddings in Israel for decades, was released several hours later after committing to appear for another round of questioning on Monday, the spokesperson said. Police later called off the planned Monday interrogation, saying the rabbi would be summoned again if the investigation required it.
In a statement, police said they were forced to come to Haiyun’s house after the Conservative rabbi ignored a summons to appear for questioning earlier in the week. Officers were merely executing a rabbinical court order to question Haiyun, the force said, adding that the Israel Police was not independently taking action on the issue.
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Thursday, July 19, 2018
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