A still image from security footage shows a group of young men assaulting a teacher outside a school in Baghdad’s Al-Hurriya area.
Four arrested after assault on Baghdad teacher caught on video
BAGHDAD — Police in Baghdad said Saturday they arrested four young men accused of attacking a teacher in the city’s Al-Hurriya neighborhood after video footage of the incident circulated online.
In a statement, Al-Karkh Police said the arrests were carried out “under the direct supervision of Maj. Gen. Adnan Hassan Hamid, commander of Baghdad Al-Karkh Police.” The statement added that “Al-Hurriya Police Department, with support from Al-Hurriya Emergency Patrols, arrested four suspects who attacked a teacher while he was entering the school.”
The command said an investigative team was formed to collect information, leading to the identification and arrest of the attackers “in record time.” Legal proceedings have been initiated against the suspects.
Police said they “will not tolerate any attempt to harm members of the educational community” and reaffirmed their commitment to “protecting education sector workers and preserving their dignity.”
The case is part of a growing pattern of violence against educators across Iraq. On Sept. 25, Baghdad Operations Command said five people were detained for assaulting a school principal in Sadr City after a fight broke out during school hours. A day earlier, Karbala police arrested a parent accused of attacking a teacher at a private school, describing the assault as “an attack on the prestige of the educational institution and the dignity of teachers.”
In another case last year, police in Diwaniyah arrested a parent who attacked a school principal after his son was denied enrollment due to overcrowding and residency restrictions.