Latest news with #Akitufestival
Shafaq News
10-04-2025
- Shafaq News
Syrian suspect confesses to Akitu festival attack
Shafaq News/ On Thursday, the Kurdistan Region Security Council arrested a Syrian national in connection with the April 1 attack on the Akitu festival in Duhok province. The council identified the suspect as 22-year-old Louay Abdulrahim Ramadan, also known as Abu Juhaiman al-Baghuzzi, and confirmed that he has been referred to the judiciary as part of an ongoing formal investigation. No further details were provided regarding additional suspects. Arrested earlier this month in Duhok city, Ramadan admitted to executing the assault using a machete and knives during the annual celebration, driven by extremist ideology. Preliminary findings indicate that the attack was carried out under directives from ISIS, the statement added. The Akitu festival, an ancient Assyrian New Year celebration, draws large crowds annually in northern Iraq.
Shafaq News
01-04-2025
- General
- Shafaq News
Assyrian-Babylonian New Year: Duhok hosts Akitu festival
Shafaq News/ Duhok province in the Kurdistan Region hosted a major celebration on Tuesday for the Akitu festival, marking the Babylonian-Assyrian New Year 6775, drawing a large crowd of local and international attendees. The festive procession kicked off in front of the "Virgin Mary" Church in downtown Duhok, with participants marching along the main street to the celebration venue at the Mazi complex. During the march, attendees waved flags and banners in celebration, while performing traditional folk dances in the streets, proudly showcasing Assyrian heritage and customs. Ninos Odisho, a member of the organizing committee, noted that over 5,000 Christians from the diaspora took part in this year's celebrations, explaining that the event aimed to send a clear message to local governments and the international community that Assyrians remain rooted in their homeland. "Any attempts to erase their identity or deny their presence is a crime against them," he stated. Odisho called on the international community to "protect Christians, safeguard their rights, and ensure the preservation of their national and cultural heritage," highlighting that Assyrians continue to face significant challenges, particularly migration and political marginalization, which have led to a steady decline in their numbers. On April 1st, Assyrians, Chaldeans, and Syriacs in Iraq celebrate the "Akitu" festival, marking one of the oldest known religious festivals in Mesopotamia. Historically dating back to the 5th millennium BCE, some believe the Sumerians celebrated it as early as the Ubaid period (5300 BCE). The festival, tied to the renewal of the land and agricultural cycles, was named "Akitu," derived from the Sumerian word for barley. Celebrated over 12 days, it honors the creation myth and the resurrection of the god Marduk, symbolizing the restoration of life and nature. The festival is still referred to as "Rēš Šattē" by Iraqi Christians. In a congratulatory message, Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani considered Akitu 'a historic occasion for a valuable civilization, with deep cultural and human roots from one of the oldest components of our region, which have contributed since the dawn of history to the development of the region's civilization and the preservation of its diversity."
Shafaq News
01-04-2025
- General
- Shafaq News
On Akitu festival: President Barzani emphasizes peaceful coexistence for Kurdistan
Shafaq News/ On Tuesday, Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani extended his congratulations on the occasion of the Akitu festival, which marks the Babylonian-Assyrian New Year 6775. "Akitu is a historic occasion for a valuable civilization, with deep cultural and human roots from one of the oldest components of our region, which have contributed since the dawn of history to the development of the region's civilization and the preservation of its diversity," Barzani stated. On this occasion, the Kurdish president reaffirmed his ongoing commitment to protecting rights and freedoms, promoting a culture of pluralism, peaceful coexistence, tolerance, and acceptance of others among all the religious and ethnic components of Kurdistan. "Let this year's Akitu be a new opportunity to strengthen love, shared life, and mutual respect among all components, and a source of hope for a better future full of progress, safety, and peace," he added. About Akitu The Akitu festival, one of the oldest recorded celebrations, was the New Year festival in ancient Mesopotamia. Originating with the Sumerians, it marked the spring equinox and the sowing of barley. The ancient Semitic people who inhabited ancient Iraq chose to call it "Akitu," believed to have originated from the Sumerian word "Akiti" or "Akítu," meaning barley, emphasizing the agricultural significance of the festival. Later adopted by the Babylonians and Assyrians, it honored the supreme god Marduk and his son Nabû. The festival, held in the month of Nisannu (April), spanned several days and included rituals, prayers, and processions. A highlight was the recitation of the Babylonian creation epic, Enûma Eliš, symbolizing the renewal of life and cosmic order.
