Jewish director murdered in Tashkent

B"H

Not that I have been counting . . . but in the past few years, that is three murders for this very small community in Tashkent. First their synagogue was scheduled for demolition and the government destroyed their mikvah and their small butcher shop, and barely saved the synagogue after Jews from all over the world protested the action, then the murders of several Bukarian Jewish leaders, and deaths of important people in the community began . . .

It seems that the community has had more than its fair share of losses lately. There is a lot more to this story, I fear, than has been reported . . .


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Founder of Ilkhom Theatre found stabbed to death outside his home. Uzbek police suspect murder was anti-Semitic attack
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3447005,00.html
Yael Branovsky
Published: 09.07.07, 13:26 / Israel Jewish Scene

Uzbek Jewish director Mark Weil was found dead Thursday night outside his home in Tashkent. Local police are investigating suspicions that the murder was an anti-Semitic attack.


At around 11 pm Thursday, Tashkent police received a call that the 51-year-old theatre director was found dead at the entrance to his home, with multiple stab wounds all over his body.


Police believe Weil was stabbed to death by two men, possibly due to his Jewish identity. The Jewish Agency said the director was well known for keeping close ties with the local Jewish community.


Weil was the founder of Ilkhom Theatre, one of the oldest independent theatres in former USSR, and hosted the Days of Contemporary Literature and Drama of Israel festival in Uzbekistan in April.


Ze'ev Dabrin, a Jewish Agency representative who served in Uzbekistan for the past four years told Ynet he knew the director well. Dabrin said the late director was loved by all, and respected due to his talent and character.


"He was social and open, a splendid man, he had brilliant and original ideas," Dabrin said.