Bethnahrin National Council extends condolences to victims of Baghdede wedding fire tragedy

BAGHDEDE, Iraq — The Bethnahrin National Council (Mawtbo Umthoyo d’Bethnahrin, MUB) expressed its profound condolences to the victims of the devastating wedding fire in the Nineveh Plains town of Baghdede (Qaraqosh / Hamdaniya), Iraq, which resulted in over 100 deaths.

The MUB began by acknowledging the tragic events that unfolded on 26 September 2023. The wedding hall, hosting hundreds of people from the Chaldean–Syriac–Assyrian community, became the site of a major catastrophe due to the outbreak of a fire, likely caused by fireworks ignited inside the hall.

The Council lamented the failure to implement necessary preventive measures, leading to the tragic loss of lives among children, women, men, youth, and the elderly within our community. The incident has cast a profound shadow across the hearts of the Chaldean–Syriac–Assyrian people, transforming the day into one of national mourning, it said.

Urging all relevant parties to conduct thorough investigations into the circumstances surrounding the tragedy, the MUB emphasized the need for accountability and preventive measures to avert such incidents in the future.

The message concluded with a solemn plea from the MUB, wishing for God’s mercy for the victims of the fire. They further prayed for strength and endurance for the grieving families and a swift recovery for those wounded.

In a bid to alleviate the profound sadness and pain resonating within the community, the Council appealed to Syriacs–Arameans–Assyrians–Chaldeans around the world to stand in solidarity with the victims of this heartbreaking incident.