Martyrdom of Ashur Srnaya in France; Crime of Radical Islamists Against the Voice of Christians
The murder of Ashur Srnaya in Lyon, France, once again demonstrated that radical Islamists, by silencing voices, cannot extinguish the faith of Christians
The Christian community around the world has been plunged into deep sorrow and great shock. “Ashur Srnaya,” a 45-year-old Assyrian-Syriac-Chaldean man who, despite physical disability, was a powerful voice of faith and freedom, was martyred on the evening of Wednesday, September 10, 2025, in front of his home in Lyon, France, by unknown attackers; attackers whose motives, according to many, are directly linked to radical Islamists.
Three masked individuals, while he was live streaming on social networks, killed him with a fatal blow to his neck and immediately fled. Their official identities have not yet been established, but evidence and records suggest that the enmity of Islamic extremists toward Ashur’s activities is the most likely cause of this bloody crime.
Ashur Srnaya, originally from the city of “Ankawa” in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, fled ISIS with his family and came to France in search of peace and security. But the same threat that had driven him from his home and homeland eventually pursued him to the heart of Europe.
On the social network TikTok, he fearlessly spoke against Islamist groups, boldly declared his Christian faith, and repeatedly reported death threats. Srnaya knew this path was dangerous, but he believed that truth and faith were worth dying for.
French authorities have condemned this crime, but Christians around the world know that this is not merely an individual murder, but a symbol of the continued wave of harassment and hate speech against believers. Just as previously, “Salwan Momika” in Sweden was targeted by extremists.
The blood of Ashur Srnaya is now a global cry; a cry that shows radical Islamists can silence bodies, but will never be able to silence the voice of Christian faith.
