Tragedy struck in Lyon, France, when Ashur Sarnaya, a 45-year-old disabled Assyrian Christian and Islamic State survivor, was brutally murdered while livestreaming about Jesus Christ. The attack occurred outside his apartment as he shared his faith on TikTok. Witnesses say the assailant waited and stabbed him in the neck, severing his carotid artery. Sarnaya died at the scene.
Sarnaya had fled Iraq in 2014 to escape Islamic persecution and had reported he received threats via anonymous calls and hostile comments from Muslim users. He had also previously reported physical assaults and censorship of his faith-based content.
Though police have not confirmed the motive, Christian advocacy groups are sounding the alarm. OIDAC Europe calls this a clear act of anti-Christian hatred and notes a 13% rise in such incidents in France this year alone. They urge European governments to provide better protection for Christian converts, especially refugees.
Ashur’s death is a sobering reminder of the price many still pay for boldly proclaiming Christ.
