A 45-year-old Iraqi Christian, Ashur Sarnaya, was fatally stabbed on the evening of September 10 in Lyon, southern France. He had fled Iraq in 2014 to escape persecution and lived in Lyon with his sister. The victim, who was disabled and used a wheelchair, was livestreaming on TikTok about his Christian faith just before the attack.
Sarnaya was returning home when a man waiting at his building allegedly ambushed him, stabbing him in the neck. Emergency responders arrived shortly before 10:30 p.m. but found him in cardiac arrest; he was pronounced dead at the scene. Neighbors described him as a peaceful and vulnerable man who had never caused trouble.
His sister reported that Sarnaya often held live video sessions in the evenings discussing Christianity. Friends watching his livestream alerted the family when they saw him being attacked. Social media posts reveal he often shared faith testimonies in Arabic and said his content was occasionally blocked or criticized by Muslim users.
French authorities have opened a homicide investigation. They are not ruling out motives tied to religion, politics, or other criminal factors. The killing comes amid a troubling rise in anti-Christian incidents in France, including vandalism and arson.
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