JEDDAH: Secretary-General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Hissein Brahim Taha on Thursday extended his sincere condolences and sympathy to the government and people of Iraq over the deadly fire that killed 100 people at a wedding ceremony in Nineveh province.
#OIC Secretary-General Conveys Condolences to #Iraq over the Victims of the Wedding Hall Fire in Al-Hamdaniya, Nineveh Governorate: https://t.co/2IsSAH2IMj pic.twitter.com/ZzOB57RyM5
— OIC (@OIC_OCI) September 28, 2023
According to a statement by the Iraqi Ministry of Health, the fire caused more than a hundred deaths and more than a hundred injuries with burn wounds.
The OIC Secretary-General expressed his sympathy with the families of the victims and prayed to Allah Almighty to bestow His vast mercy upon the deceased. He prayed that Allah to give patience and resilience to the bereaved families, and grant the injured a speedy recovery.
The tragic incident occurred at the Haitham Royal Wedding Hall in the predominantly Christian area of Hamdaniya near Mosul in Nineveh Governorate. A fire erupted when the ceiling panels above a pyrotechnic machine ignited due to fireworks, causing panic among the approximately 250 guests in attendance.
The venue’s owners are facing accusations of safety protocol violations. The Mosul Municipality has already called for the closure of hotels, restaurants, and other venues that lack safety approvals or have disregarded previous warnings.
Meanwhile, funeral processions continued at the Saint Behnam Syriac Catholic Church, where a video circulating on Iraqi media and social platforms depicted the bride and groom among the mourners.
The Interior Ministry attributed the disaster to highly flammable building materials and accused the owners of breaching safety and security regulations. This tragedy is the latest blow to Iraq’s dwindling Christian minority, which has significantly decreased in size over the past decade.
