The United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) expressed its condemnation on Thursday of the attack on an Assyrian celebration in Duhok Governorate.

In a statement received by Al-Awla, UNAMI said, "We strongly condemn the attack that occurred on April 1, 2025, targeting an Assyrian Christian gathering in Duhok, in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, during their celebration of 'Akitu,' the Assyrian-Babylonian New Year. The attack resulted in serious injuries to two individuals and disrupted a religious celebration that was meant to be peaceful and joyous."

The Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Iraq and head of UNAMI, Mohamed Al-Hassan, praised "the swift and effective response by Iraqi authorities, which led to the immediate arrest of the perpetrator."

He strongly condemned "this criminal act that threatens the spirit of coexistence and tolerance, which Iraqis and the Iraqi authorities have worked hard to rebuild and preserve," urging the authorities to "ensure accountability for those responsible."

Al-Hassan added, "While we express our solidarity with the Assyrian Christian community in these difficult times, we emphasize that religious and ethnic diversity is the cornerstone of Iraq's social fabric and must always be preserved as a fundamental element of a stable and inclusive Iraq."