World News
Jerusalem court acquits man accused of attacking nun, ordering psychiatric care
An Israeli court acquitted 36-year-old Yona Schreiber on insanity grounds following an April assault on a French nun in Jerusalem's Old City.
The short version
- A Jerusalem Magistrate's Court acquitted Yona Schreiber of assault after a district psychiatrist determined he was in a psychotic state during an April attack on a Catholic nun.
- The judge ordered Schreiber committed to a psychiatric hospital for up to six years.
- The April assault involved pushing and kicking a French nun in Jerusalem's Old City, leaving her with head, face, and leg injuries.
- The decision highlights ongoing tensions and reported increases in harassment targeting Christian clergy and pilgrims in the area.
Key facts
- The Jerusalem Magistrate's Court acquitted 36-year-old Yona Schreiber on an insanity defense and ordered him hospitalized in a psychiatric facility for up to six years.[ABC News · BBC News · Associated Press]
- A district psychiatrist's evaluation found Schreiber was psychotic during the April incident and unfit to stand trial, an assessment accepted by the prosecution.[ABC News · BBC News · Associated Press]
- The victim, a French nun and researcher at The French Biblical and Archaeological School of Jerusalem, sustained bruises to her face and leg after hitting her head on a stone block during the attack.[BBC News · Associated Press]
- The director of the French Biblical and Archaeological School expressed regret over the lack of a criminal penalty while hoping the hospitalization would be fully served to ensure public safety.[ABC News · Associated Press]
- The Religious Freedom Data Center reported tracking roughly one anti-Christian incident per day in Jerusalem, marking a near-tripling of incidents compared to four years prior.[ABC News · Associated Press]
- Israeli officials designated an English-speaking police contact officer to address incidents involving the Christian community and facilitate rapid response times.[ABC News · Associated Press]