An Iraqi Christian was stabbed to death on Friday (September 10).
Assyrian Christian, wheelchair-imparted assyrian Christian, fled persecution from Iraqi terrorist group Islamic State (IS), and reportedly said he was threatened with online comments and anonymous calls. He was 45 years old.
The attack reportedly took place before 10:30pm near his apartment at 53 rue Sergent Michel Berthet at the 9th Annual Allendentment. Witnesses reported that the assailant waited for Sarnaya and stabbed him in the neck.
Rupogles, a local Daily News website, reported that the attacker had cut off Sarnaya’s carotid artery and fled. LeProgrès reported that Sarnaya was cardiopulmonary arrested when emergency services arrived and was unable to revive.
“On Thursday morning, in the video clip, still online, we see victims who are authenticated by relatives, with blood on their faces and visible flowing through their noses and mouths,” reported Le Progress.
Witnesses showed a video to the press AFP that stated, “A person wearing dark clothes and a hood over his head, identified him as the perpetrator of the murder,” he said.
Police sources told Le Progress that authorities have not yet prioritized theories about the motives of the murder.
“There’s nothing pointing us in the direction of solid criminal, political, religious or drug-related investigations,” the officer said. “He was very active on social media. We’re working on that.”
Sarnaya left Iraq in 2014, fled Muslim persecution and lived with her French sister. He often shares Christian messages online in Arabic, the Observatory on intolerance and discrimination against Christians in Europe (OIDAC Europe). Sarnaya reportedly stated that Muslim social media users harassed him and attacked him.
“Many Christian groups in France have condemned murder and are calling for Middle Eastern Christians to safely practice their faith and live with dignity,” Oidak Europe said. “It’s true that this murder is unimaginable given Assur’s history of fleeing persecution.”
According to the Catholic News Agency, Sarnaya shared testimony of her Arabic faith on social media, saying she was physically attacked by Muslims in March. In one example cited by Aleteia France, he said his content was blocked or suspended as a result of reports by Muslims, the agency reported.
According to the Catholic News, the president of the Assilo Chaldea Society of Lyon, Georges Shamun Ishak, told the Catholic media that Sarnaya is “a very kind and modest person who likes to talk about the Christian faith.”
Lyon’s prosecutors have launched an intentional murder investigation. The Organized Specialist Crime Division (DCOS) undertook the investigation.
Oidak Europe cited murder as an example of French anti-Christian acts, up 13% in the first half of 2025.
“OIDAC Europe highlights the vulnerability of Christian converts in Europe to various international organizations, and continues to emphasize that the government must ensure the safety of all European followers, including converts.
OIDAC Europe highlighted the vulnerability of Christian converts in Europe and referred to a new guide to anti-Christian hate crimes that urge governments to ensure better protection. This guide was published by the European Security Cooperation Agency (OSCE) and the Democrats and the Office of Human Rights (ODIHR).
“Given that many of the affected people are refugees who fled persecution in their country of origin, the effects of such hate crimes reinforce the trauma they have already endured and increase the need for support services,” the guide said.
The Oidac Europe update states, “The tragic death of Ashur Sarnaya reminds us that the society as a whole is in solidarity, not just the need for further government action.”
