Cult leader Daniel Ambash was married to six women and had 18 children. The case of his cult is one of the worst abuse cases in Israel, according to police.
Cult leader and polygamist Daniel Ambash, sentenced to 26 years in the Ayalon Prison in Ramle for a series of sexual abuse, rape and conditions of slavery, died suddenly on Friday morning, Israel Prison Service (IPS) Spokesperson’s Unit announced.
He was a resident of Jerusalem, was married to six wives and had 18 children.
Ambash was imprisoned in 2011 and was supposed to get out in July 2037, in what has been characterized by police as one of the worst cases of abuse in Israel. Testimonies, private journals and medical records greatly helped the police to get the details of the case at the time.
Ambash was in the hospital and had been released to the prison clinic, where he lost consciousness. He died shortly after. The cause of his death is still unknown and is being investigated by Israel Police.
A few of his wives decided to run for Knesset in 2019 under the party name Kama, with the stated goal of fighting for greater individual liberties.
Since the conviction, his wives have maintained Ambash’s innocence and insisted they never experienced abuse.