Three Injured in Axe Attack During Assyrian Christian New Year Parade in Iraq
An annual celebration in Dohuk was disrupted by a violent incident, raising concerns about security and minority rights.
In Dohuk, Iraq, three individuals sustained injuries during an Assyrian Christian New Year parade on April 1, when an unidentified man, wielding an axe, attacked participants in the festive procession.
The event drew thousands of Assyrians from both Iraq and the diaspora, who gathered to celebrate their cultural heritage with flags and traditional attire.
Witness accounts indicate that the assailant approached the crowd while shouting slogans associated with Islamic extremism.
Reports confirm that he struck three victims before being subdued by both onlookers and security personnel.
Video footage circulated on social media depicted the man being restrained on the ground, where he continued to shout references to the Islamic State (Daesh).
Among the injured were a 17-year-old boy, Fardi, and a 75-year-old woman, Yoniyah Khoshaba, both of whom suffered serious skull injuries.
A member of local security forces, operating a drone for surveillance, was also among the wounded.
Local health officials confirmed that all three victims were hospitalized following the attack.
The incident has left the Assyrian community shaken, particularly given their historical experiences of violence and displacement.
Athraa Abdullah, mother of the injured teenager, recounted her family's previous displacement due to Daesh in 2014, expressing her distress over the attack occurring during a time of celebration meant for safety and cultural expression.
Janet Aprem Odisho, whose mother was injured, described the chaos of the moment, recounting how the attacker had targeted bystanders indiscriminately.
Her family, like many Assyrians, has a history of displacement stemming from past violence in Baghdad, now residing in Ain Baqre village near Alqosh.
In the aftermath of the attack, social media platforms saw a surge of hate speech directed against Assyrians, prompting leaders within the community to call for action.
Ninab Yousif Toma, a political figure within the Assyrian Democratic Movement (ADM), urged local and national authorities to address what he termed a climate of extremism fostered by current educational and religious curricula.
Remarkably, despite the attack, the Assyrian community continued their celebrations of Akitu, a traditional new year festival representing renewal and resilience.
In an act of solidarity, participants wrapped the injured teenager's head in an Assyrian flag, which was later displayed during the parade, symbolizing endurance in the face of violence.
Community leaders maintain a commitment to pursuing legal actions related to the incident while emphasizing the supportive relations between Assyrians and the Muslim Kurdish population in the region.
The event drew thousands of Assyrians from both Iraq and the diaspora, who gathered to celebrate their cultural heritage with flags and traditional attire.
Witness accounts indicate that the assailant approached the crowd while shouting slogans associated with Islamic extremism.
Reports confirm that he struck three victims before being subdued by both onlookers and security personnel.
Video footage circulated on social media depicted the man being restrained on the ground, where he continued to shout references to the Islamic State (Daesh).
Among the injured were a 17-year-old boy, Fardi, and a 75-year-old woman, Yoniyah Khoshaba, both of whom suffered serious skull injuries.
A member of local security forces, operating a drone for surveillance, was also among the wounded.
Local health officials confirmed that all three victims were hospitalized following the attack.
The incident has left the Assyrian community shaken, particularly given their historical experiences of violence and displacement.
Athraa Abdullah, mother of the injured teenager, recounted her family's previous displacement due to Daesh in 2014, expressing her distress over the attack occurring during a time of celebration meant for safety and cultural expression.
Janet Aprem Odisho, whose mother was injured, described the chaos of the moment, recounting how the attacker had targeted bystanders indiscriminately.
Her family, like many Assyrians, has a history of displacement stemming from past violence in Baghdad, now residing in Ain Baqre village near Alqosh.
In the aftermath of the attack, social media platforms saw a surge of hate speech directed against Assyrians, prompting leaders within the community to call for action.
Ninab Yousif Toma, a political figure within the Assyrian Democratic Movement (ADM), urged local and national authorities to address what he termed a climate of extremism fostered by current educational and religious curricula.
Remarkably, despite the attack, the Assyrian community continued their celebrations of Akitu, a traditional new year festival representing renewal and resilience.
In an act of solidarity, participants wrapped the injured teenager's head in an Assyrian flag, which was later displayed during the parade, symbolizing endurance in the face of violence.
Community leaders maintain a commitment to pursuing legal actions related to the incident while emphasizing the supportive relations between Assyrians and the Muslim Kurdish population in the region.
