Yazidi boy aged fifteen stabbed to death in Germany

The Khalaf family has left the Shengal region in Southern Kurdistan after the Yazidi genocide by the “Islamic State” (ISIS) on 3 August 2014. The parents with their three daughters and three sons entered Germany via Turkey and Greece in 2015 and settled in Celle, where many Yazidis live. Their 15-year-old son Arkan was stabbed to death on Tuesday evening in the city in Lower Saxony.

According to the Celle police and the Luneburg public prosecutor’s office, the crime took place at 9.45 p.m.: “Yesterday evening at about 9.45 p.m., a 15-year-old youth was riding his bicycle down Bahnhofstraße (Train Station Street) towards the city when he was suddenly and unexpectedly, and presumably also without reason, seriously injured by a 29-year-old man with a stabbing tool.

Eyewitnesses have reported that the perpetrator had previously stopped at the entrance to a house. The victim was taken to hospital and shortly afterwards succumbed to his severe injuries. The boy is of Iraqi origin and lives in Celle.

The suspected perpetrator with German nationality was detained by the witnesses and handed over to the arriving police officer, who provisionally arrested the man on suspicion of manslaughter. There are as yet no concrete clues as to the accused’s motives. When he was arrested, the 29-year-old seemed confused. The accused, who is being represented by a lawyer, has not yet given any information on the matter. The investigation is ongoing.”

Fadil Donma of the daily Yeni Özgür Politika spoke with the Khalaf family. The relatives say that Arkan has taken the restrictions imposed by the Corona pandemic seriously. Yesterday he wanted to get some fresh air and went for a bike ride.

Arkan’s elder sister Halime Hussein Khalaf said: “Arkan was the youngest of our siblings, he went to Westercelle High School. He could not harm anyone and had no bad habits, he was attached to the Yazidi faith. Why was he murdered in the open street? We’re not hurting anyone, now everything has been taken away from us.”

Halime tells that the family fled from the ISIS terror and therefore came to Germany: “We came across the water and drowned here in blood.” The family expects the German authorities to solve the crime and punish the perpetrator.

Arcan Khalaf will be buried at the Yazidi cemetery in Hanover. Due to the corona pandemic, condolence visits will not take place in Germany or Kurdistan for the time being.

Source: ANF