_{The image shows the flag of the Hawpaorganization, a Kurdish nazi extremist movement. The flag is black, with a white circular border containing a radiating sunburst around a central hooked geometric symbol.}

“Blow up the churches”: Telegram channel urges attacks on Christians in Kurdistan

BETH NAHRIN — Kurdistan Region of Iraq — A Telegram channel called Kurdish Youth, which reporting links to the Hawpa organisation, published an explicit call to violence instructing followers to “blow up all the churches in Kurdistan or close them,” describing Christian places of worship as “anti-Kurdish sites.” The inflammatory post — screenshots of which are circulating on local social media — has prompted immediate condemnation from religious leaders, human-rights defenders, political figures, and community representatives across the region.

Religious and civic leaders warn that such rhetoric is not mere provocation: it is direct incitement to terror against houses of worship, clergy and congregations. Christian communities in Beth Nahrain (Mesopotamia) — including the Chaldean Syriac Assyrian population in the Nineveh Plain and Khabur River Basin — still bear the scars of recent mass displacement and targeted violence. Observers say calls to attack churches risk reigniting sectarian violence and deepening insecurity for indigenous communities.

_{This screenshot documents an incendiary call to violence against churches and Christian communities in Kurdistan, openly inciting the destruction or closure of religious sites and framing them as “anti-Kurdish.”}

Local actors and international rights groups are demanding urgent action:

A criminal inquiry to identify the operators of the Kurdish Youth channel and to prosecute anyone responsible for incitement to violence.

Immediate removal of the posts and account suspension by platform providers, together with preservation and handover of account metadata to investigators.

Temporary, non-militarized protection measures for at-risk churches and clergy while authorities investigate.

Community-led de-escalation and interfaith dialogues involving tribal leaders, clergy and civic groups to prevent polarization.

If left unchecked, the incident risks more than verbal intimidation: it threatens the safety, heritage and existence of communities who have lived in this land for centuries. Authorities, platforms, and international partners must treat the call to “blow up the churches” as a criminal emergency, not a social-media controversy.

Image citation (for caption use):
Screenshot of Telegram post from the Kurdish Youth channel calling for churches in Kurdistan to be “blown up.” Published in SyriacPress, 21 September 2025.

Source citation (for references or notes):
SyriacPress. “Escalation of Hate Speech Against Christians in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.” Published September 21, 2025. Available at: https://syriacpress.com/blog/2025/09/21/escalation-of-hate-speech-against-christians-in-the-kurdistan-region-of-iraq/