Parent arrested after allegedly assaulting school principal in Diwaniyah

DIWANIYAH — A parent was arrested on Wednesday after allegedly assaulting the principal of Al-Balag Al-Mubeen Boys High School in the village of Hamza Al-Ghanem, located in the Suniyah district of Diwaniyah. The incident occurred following the principal’s refusal to enroll the man’s son due to the student living outside the school’s designated catchment area.

The assault took place after Principal Abdul Hamza Asfoor declined the student’s registration, citing both overcrowding and the school’s geographic boundary policy. According to police, the parent blocked Asfoor’s path and physically attacked him, threatening further action if the decision was not reversed.

Hisham Karim, a teacher at the school, told 964media, “The principal, Mr. Abdul Hamza, declined the student’s registration because the school is already overcrowded and the student resides outside the geographical zone. The father later intercepted the principal on his way home, assaulted him, and threatened to block the street if he didn’t change his decision.”

Following the assault, Principal Asfoor was taken to Diwaniyah Teaching Hospital for treatment.

In response to the attack, Karim and other staff members called on the Teachers’ Union to intervene, expressing concern over the increasing number of such incidents at the start of each school year.

The Ministry of Interior confirmed the arrest. “The individual involved in the assault has been referred to the judiciary to face legal consequences,” the ministry said in a statement.