The stabbing of Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel during a church service in Sydney sparked a riot and stirred fears of persecution among the Assyrian community, many of whom fled their homeland due to religious persecution. The attack, deemed a terrorist act, was allegedly carried out by a teenager with suspected religious extremist motives.
The father of the teenage attacker, however, claimed he saw no signs of radicalism in his son. According to Gamel Kheir of the Lebanese Muslim Association, the father mentioned that aside from being rebellious, there were no apparent indications of extremist views. The family even temporarily relocated from their western Sydney home out of fear of reprisals.
Maria, a member of the Assyrian community who migrated from Iraq, expressed devastation over the attack, likening it to the persecution experienced in their homeland. She highlighted that many Assyrians came to Australia to escape such persecution.
The incident has put the Muslim community in Sydney on high alert, with threats made against the Lakemba mosque, prompting the hiring of security guards. This comes in the wake of another recent stabbing incident near Bondi Beach, where six people were killed.
In response to the riot outside the church, police have made arrests and are reviewing surveillance footage to identify more individuals involved. The clashes resulted in injuries to emergency personnel and damage to police vehicles.
Despite the challenges, Bishop Emmanuel remains a popular figure, known for his presence on TikTok and his outspoken views on various topics. His sermons cover a range of subjects from biblical teachings to controversial opinions on issues like homosexuality, COVID vaccinations, Islam, and the U.S. presidency.
Authorities plan to reopen the shopping center near Bondi Beach and hold a candlelight vigil to honor the victims of the recent violence.
Login