Iraqi Christian Killed in Lyon While Livestreaming Faith
A disabled Iraqi Christian who fled ISIS persecution, was fatally stabbed in Lyon while livestreaming his religious testimony on TikTok, prompting outrage and calls for justice amid rising anti-Christian violence in France.
According to le Progrès, Ashur Sarnaya, a 45-year-old Assyrian Christian who used a wheelchair, was stabbed to death outside his apartment in Lyon, France, on the evening of September 10, while livestreaming a video about his faith on TikTok. Sarnaya had fled Iraq in 2014 to escape Islamist persecution and had lived quietly with his sister for over a decade. Witnesses reported that the attacker appeared to be waiting for him and struck him in the neck before fleeing. Emergency services were unable to revive him.
Sarnaya was known for sharing Christian messages in Arabic online, and had previously reported being harassed and attacked by Muslim users. His sister stated, “He had no enemies, no problems with anyone.” Catholic organizations condemned the murder, with Œuvre d’Orient calling it “essential that Christians of the Middle East be able to witness to their faith in safety and live with dignity.” SOS Chrétiens d’Orient described the killing as “unimaginable,” given Sarnaya’s history of fleeing persecution.
The Lyon prosecutor’s office launched a homicide investigation, with no motive yet confirmed. Political figures and Catholic leaders expressed concern over the broader rise in anti-Christian acts in France, which have increased by 13% in the first half of 2025. The incident has reignited debate over religious freedom and the protection of vulnerable communities.
Source: CNA
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