Assyrian Bishop Stabbed in Sydney Church Forgives Attacker, Urges Calm Amid Protests

On April 15, 2024, Assyrian Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel was stabbed by a 16-year-old boy during a livestreamed church service at Christ the Good Shepherd Church in Sydney, Australia. The assault, which injured at least four people including another cleric, has been declared a terrorist act by police.

Despite suffering stab wounds to the head and chest, Bishop Emmanuel's injuries were not life-threatening and he is recovering quickly. In a video message from the hospital, the bishop expressed forgiveness for his alleged attacker, calling the teen "my son" and saying he will always pray for him. "You are my son, and I love you," the bishop stated. "I forgive you, and I will always pray for you."

The 16-year-old suspect, who spoke in Arabic about the Prophet Muhammad being insulted after the stabbing, was arrested at the scene and has been charged with perpetrating a terrorist act. He faces a potential life sentence if convicted. The teen's lawyer indicated he has a history of mental illness, and will undergo a mental health assessment while in custody.

Why this matters: The stabbing of Bishop Emmanuel and the ensuing riots have heightened tensions in Sydney's religious communities. The incident highlights the ongoing challenges of combating extremism and promoting interfaith harmony in a diverse society.

The attack on the bishop, who has a popular youth following on TikTok and has criticized homosexuality, COVID-19 vaccinations, and Islam in his sermons, provoked angry protests outside the church. A crowd of the bishop's supporters clashed with police for over three hours, hurling stones and damaging property. More than 50 officers were injured and 20 police vehicles were damaged in the riots.

Amid the unrest, Bishop Emmanuel has called for calm and urged his followers to respond to the attack with love, not violence. "Please do not fight on the streets, do not throw stones or damage property," he pleaded in his message. "That is not the Christian way. We must reflect Christ, love our neighbors, pray for our country and city."

The stabbing incident, along with a separate deadly knife assault at a mall near Bondi beach days earlier, has fueled a surge of disinformation and speculation on social media. Authorities, religious leaders, and community figures are working to restore calm and unity in the aftermath of the attacks.

Australian Prime Minister Chris Bowen strongly condemned the church stabbing as a "terrorist attack" and the subsequent riots as "unacceptable." He vowed that those responsible for the violence will face "the full force of the law." Police are continuing to investigate the stabbing and riots, and anticipate making further arrests in connection with the unrest. Bishop Emmanuel, while still recovering, reiterated his message of forgiveness: "I am healing quickly because I forgive the boy who did this to me. I pray for him and his family, and I ask all of you to do the same. Put down your anger and embrace love, as our Lord Jesus taught us."

Key Takeaways

• Assyrian bishop stabbed by 16-year-old during livestreamed church service in Sydney.
• Bishop Emmanuel forgave his attacker, calling him "my son" and pledging to pray for him.
• Suspect charged with terrorism, faces potential life sentence; has history of mental illness.
• Stabbing and riots heightened tensions in Sydney's religious communities, fueled disinformation.
• Prime Minister condemned attack as "terrorist act," vowed perpetrators will face "full force of law".