Mosul, Iraq -- Iraq's Nineveh Governorate has named a street next to the Syriac Orthodox Cathedral of Mor Ephrem in Mosul after Father Bulos Iskandar, honoring his memory and his service to the church and Christian community.

The decision followed efforts by Syriac Orthodox Archbishop of Mosul and Kerkheslokh (Kirkuk) Mor Nicodemus Daoud Matti Sharaf, who worked with the Nineveh Governorate to secure approval for the street naming.

The Archbishop and an accompanying delegation attended the ceremony marking the designation. The initiative was described as a tribute to Father Iskandar's legacy and his contributions to the church and humanitarian work.

Father Iskandar was kidnapped in Mosul on 9 October 2006, by unidentified gunmen who reportedly demanded a ransom of between $250,000 and $350,000. His body was found beheaded two days later, on 11 October.

His killing sent shockwaves through Christian communities in Iraq and abroad, amid escalating violence and threats against clergy, church institutions and Christian civilians, particularly in Mosul and Baghdad. The insecurity prompted many Christian families to leave their homes and seek safety elsewhere.

Naming the street after Father Iskandar forms part of broader efforts to preserve the memory of church figures who lost their lives during years of violence in Iraq. It also reaffirms their place in the historical and religious memory of the Suraya (Chaldean--Syriac--Assyrian) people and Christian communities of Mosul.