High Court rules against autopsy of allegedly strangled child amid protests

Ultra-Orthodox communities around the country protested on Sunday night and Monday after the court announced that there would be an autopsy.

 Police scuffle with ultra orthodox jewish men protesting against the autopsy of a 4-year old boy who was murdered by a family member in the Jerusalem neighborhood of Ramot a few days ago, in Jerusalem, August 15, 2022. Photo by Yonatan Sindel/Flash90. (photo credit: YONATAN SINDEL/FLASH90)
Police scuffle with ultra orthodox jewish men protesting against the autopsy of a 4-year old boy who was murdered by a family member in the Jerusalem neighborhood of Ramot a few days ago, in Jerusalem, August 15, 2022. Photo by Yonatan Sindel/Flash90.
(photo credit: YONATAN SINDEL/FLASH90)

The High Court of Justice ruled against an autopsy of the four-year-old boy who died on Sunday after he was seemingly strangled by his uncle on Saturday.

The boy was rushed to the hospital on Saturday after he was found unconscious in his uncle's room with signs of having been strangled. The uncle was arrested and is expected to undergo a psychiatric evaluation to determine if he is mentally fit to be considered criminally responsible.

On Sunday afternoon, the hospital announced that the boy had died, and the Jerusalem Magistrates Court ruled that an autopsy was to be conducted as part of the ongoing investigation into his death. The family, who was unhappy with the ruling, announced that it would appeal.

Protests against the autopsy

Following the announcement of the autopsy, large protests broke out in Ultra-Orthodox communities on Sunday night in which protesters clashed with Israel Police officers and set fire to construction equipment. The protests were renewed late Monday morning as the time for the appeal hearing approached.

 Ultra orthodox jewish men protest against the autopsy of a 4-year old boy who was murdered by a family member in the Jerusalem neighborhood of Ramot a few days ago, in Jerusalem, August 14, 2022. (credit: YONATAN SINDEL/FLASH90)
Ultra orthodox jewish men protest against the autopsy of a 4-year old boy who was murdered by a family member in the Jerusalem neighborhood of Ramot a few days ago, in Jerusalem, August 14, 2022. (credit: YONATAN SINDEL/FLASH90)

The High Court ultimately ruled in favor of the family that there would not be an autopsy.

The investigation is still ongoing, and the identity of the suspect will be revealed if he is found to be mentally sound.