Iraqi teenager succumbs to wounds after participation in New Year’s Eve celebrations
People gather at Al-Nusoor Square before New Year’s celebrations for 2017 in Baghdad, Dec. 31, 2016.
Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) – An Iraqi female teenager has succumbed to gunshot wounds she sustained during her participation in the New Year’s Eve celebrations in Baghdad, the Ministry of Health announced on Tuesday.
“Hagar Abbas has shortly died at Al-Imamian Al-Kadhimiyian Medical City in Baghdad,” the ministry said in a statement, adding that the 14-year-old was moved to the hospital last night suffering from gunshot wounds to the head she sustained while participating in the New Year’s Eve celebrations.
New Year’s Eve is one of the largest global celebrations that marks the last day of the year in the Gregorian calendar, December 31, and sees people across the globe celebrate the New Year.
Iraq’s Grand Sunni Mufti Sheikh Mahdi al-Sumaidaie said on Friday that participating in New Year’s celebrations is forbidden for Muslims.
A wave of criticism has spread after the government announced last month that there would be a three-day public holiday from Dec. 30 through Jan. 1 over Christmas.
Iraqi Christians have been demanding that the Iraqi government make Christmas a public holiday, but the government announced a New Year’s one instead.