Nineveh Governorate approves the naming in honour of the Syriac Orthodox priest who was kidnapped and killed in 2006, following efforts by Archbishop Mar Nicodemus Daoud Matti Sharaf, head of the Archdiocese.

IshtarTV.com – Mosul

Photo source: The Syriac Orthodox Archdiocese of Mosul, Kirkuk and the Kurdistan Region

In a move to honour the memory of one of the martyrs of the Syriac Orthodox Church, a street adjacent to Mar Afram Cathedral in the city of Mosul has been named after the martyred Father Boulos Iskander. The decision was approved by Nineveh Governorate following efforts and follow-up by His Eminence Archbishop Mar Nicodemus Daoud Matti Sharaf, head of the Syriac Orthodox Archdiocese of Mosul, Kirkuk and the Kurdistan Region.

According to the Archdiocese’s official website, Archbishop Mar Nicodemus Daoud Matti Sharaf attended the ceremony marking the installation of the street’s new name, accompanied by his delegation. The initiative reflects appreciation for Father Iskander’s sacrifices in serving the Church and the faithful, while underscoring the importance of preserving the memory of martyrs and honouring their legacy.

The Kidnapping and Martyrdom of Father Boulos Iskander in 2006

The martyrdom of Father Boulos Iskander dates back to October 2006, when he was kidnapped in Mosul on 9 October by unidentified gunmen while he was in the area of car repair and spare-parts shops.

According to information reported by church sources at the time, the kidnappers demanded that the Church issue a statement distancing itself from remarks made by Pope Benedict XVI concerning Islam, which sparked widespread controversy following his lecture in Regensburg, Germany, in September 2006. They also demanded a ransom from the priest’s family, raising the requested amount during negotiations to US$350,000.

In an effort to save his life, the Church issued a statement addressing the controversial remarks, while Father Boulos’s family attempted to raise the ransom demanded for his release. However, these efforts failed to save his life.

On the evening of 11 October 2006, his body was found in the Al-Tahrir district of Mosul. He had been tortured and killed, in a crime that caused widespread shock and grief within church and Christian communities.

The crime drew condemnation from church and international bodies. The Syriac Orthodox Church denounced the targeting of one of its priests, while the World Council of Churches issued a statement on 17 October 2006 condemning his murder and affirming that violence and killing serve neither religion nor any cause.

Father Boulos Iskander: A Life of Church Service Ended in Martyrdom

Father Boulos Iskander was ordained a priest in 1989 and served at Mar Afram Syriac Orthodox Church in Mosul. He was known for his spiritual and pastoral service in the city before becoming a victim of the wave of violence targeting Christian clergy during that period.

His martyrdom remains one of the painful episodes in the history of Mosul’s Christians, amid the kidnappings, threats and attacks that targeted clergy, church institutions and members of our people in the city at the time.

Naming the street adjacent to Mar Afram Cathedral after him ensures that his memory remains present in a place closely associated with his priestly ministry. It also serves as a tribute to his sacrifice and preserves a chapter of the history of the Syriac Orthodox Church in Mosul.

This initiative carries a message of loyalty to the martyrs who lost their lives to violence, and reaffirms the importance of safeguarding the historical and ecclesiastical memory of the community and passing it on to future generations.