Stones hurled at police during ultra-Orthodox protest in capital

Stones are hurled by ultra-Orthodox protesters at police officers during a demonstration in Jerusalem against the state’s decision to order authorities to conduct an autopsy on a four-month-old infant from Beit Shemesh who died overnight.

Two protesters are arrested.

Before his death, the infant, the grandson of Beit Shemesh mayor Moshe Abutbul, was hospitalized for a week after suffering from a major blow to the head.

Israeli security forces confront ultra-Orthodox protesters in Jerusalem on January 7, 2016, after authorities ordered an autopsy on a four-month-old infant from the community (screen capture: Channel 2)

Police suspected the baby may have been abused, and requested to perform an autopsy following his death.

For religious reasons, many members of the ultra-Orthodox community believe the bodies of the deceased should not be tampered with, and generally oppose the performance of autopsies except in extreme cases.

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