What was meant to be the happiest day of Haneen and Revan’s lives turned into an unimaginable tragedy that will haunt them forever. On the night of their wedding in Qaraqosh, a Christian town in northern Iraq, disaster struck. The couple’s celebration, attended by nearly 900 guests, quickly descended into chaos when a fire broke out in the banquet hall.
As Revan and Haneen danced together, flames suddenly ignited overhead. Revan recalled hearing crackling sounds and seeing the ceiling melt, likely due to an electrical short circuit, although initial reports suggested fireworks may have sparked the blaze. Within seconds, the fire had spread rapidly across the hall’s nylon ceiling, sparking mass panic and terror.
Guests began screaming and stampeding for the exits. Revan grabbed Haneen and tried to pull her to safety, but she was trampled in the chaos and suffered injuries to her legs. Despite earlier concerns voiced by Revan’s father about using fireworks indoors, the venue owners had assured everyone that the devices were “electric and safe.” When the fire began, however, only a single ineffective fire extinguisher was available.
The couple narrowly escaped through a kitchen door, but the tragedy left irreversible damage. More than 100 people died, and at least 150 were injured. Haneen lost ten family members, including her mother and brother, while her father was seriously wounded. The fire tore through the hall due to highly flammable composite ceiling panels, which violated safety regulations.
Authorities arrested 14 people, including four responsible for setting off the fireworks. While some have since been released, Iraq’s Prime Minister pledged justice and stricter enforcement of safety codes. The couple, devastated and traumatized, could no longer remain in Qaraqosh and were forced to abandon their home. WATCH AND READ MORE BELOW
Haneen has been unable to speak since the fire, overwhelmed by grief. Revan expressed their pain simply but powerfully: “We are dead inside.” The emotional toll of losing loved ones and the dreams they once had is beyond words. Their story stands as a heartbreaking reminder of the dangers of negligence and the enduring scars left by preventable tragedies.
