On May 15, 2026, an unidentified armed group threw a hand grenade at the home of Abd al-Razzaq al-Majidi, the president of Al-Esraa University in apparent retaliation for the university’s refusal to pass an engineering student.

The attack damaged al-Majidi’s home but caused no injuries. It came four days after the armed group threatened al-Majidi by converging more than 15 vehicles outside his home and demanding that al-Majidi appear at their headquarters.

Scholars at Risk is concerned about a targeted, violent attack on a scholar. In addition to the potential harm and personal risk to the victim and their family, such attacks target higher education’s core values, including academic freedom, the free exchange of ideas, and social responsibility. State authorities are responsible for safeguarding these values by taking all reasonable steps to ensure the security of higher education communities and their members, including a responsibility to deter future attacks by investigating incidents and making every effort to hold perpetrators accountable, consistent with internationally recognized standards. Members of society similarly have a responsibility to help safeguard the higher education space by pressing demands to state authorities for greater protection and accountability, and by contributing to efforts to understand and reinforce principles of autonomy and academic freedom.

Sources:
*SAR identified this incident in data made publicly available by the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED)
https://shafaq.com/en/Security/Al-Esraa-University-president-s-home-attacked-after-threats-from-armed-group
https://ina.iq/en/security/48737-al-esraa-university-university-presidents-home-attacked-for-second-time.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3sHe7mfn9iAhttps://www.okaz.com.sa/variety/na/2248897