Israeli-Canadian Freed After 11 Years Visits Western Wall Ahead of Yom Kippur

Ben Hassin, an Israeli-Canadian of Kurdish Jewish descent, arrived at Jerusalem’s Western Wall on the eve of Yom Kippur. The appearance marked his first public visit to the holy site since his release from a prison in Iraqi Kurdistan, where he had spent more than a decade behind bars. In footage shared on social media, Hassin is seen visibly emotional, describing the moment as a long-awaited day of joy.

i24NEWS

Hassin traveled to Iraq at roughly age 20 to visit relatives. While there, he joined a local militia fighting the Islamic State. During a return from the front lines, an argument with a taxi driver escalated, and Hassin shot the driver. The driver’s family later alleged that the driver suspected Hassin of being Jewish and Israeli and threatened to hand him over to ISIS. Hassin maintains that he acted in self-defense. Iraqi authorities convicted him of murder and imposed a death sentence, which was reportedly lifted after a pardon was granted the previous year.

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The prisoner’s release followed a reconciliation agreement between Hassin’s family and the driver’s relatives. The agreement, facilitated by local mediators, allowed the death sentence to be commuted and led to Hassin’s freedom after 11 years of incarceration. After his release, Hassin expressed relief and gratitude, noting that he had long awaited the opportunity to return to his homeland.

i24NEWS

Hassin’s homecoming carries symbolic weight for several communities. For Israeli and Jewish observers, his arrival at the Western Wall underscores themes of survival and return after prolonged hardship. For the Kurdish diaspora, his Kurdish Jewish heritage highlights the complex identities that intersect in conflict zones. The case also illustrates how personal reconciliation can intersect with broader legal and political processes in post-conflict regions, offering a rare instance of a death-sentence prisoner regaining freedom through negotiated settlement.

i24NEWS