Incident Involving Zagreb Nun Raises Controversy
In Zagreb, Croatia, a Catholic nun has been accused of stabbing herself and fabricating a story claiming her attacker was a Muslim immigrant who shouted “Allah Akbar.”
Mariya Zurno, aged 34, was admitted to the hospital last Friday due to stab wounds, as reported by Narod.hr. According to the report, initial claims suggested that migrants had attacked her while chanting religious slogans. However, after an investigation, the Zagreb Police Department (ZPD) dismissed these allegations, as noted by Croatia Week.
A duty officer from the ZPD confirmed to Narod.hr that the hospital was looking into the circumstances surrounding Zurno’s injuries. On the same day, local journalist Marin Vlahovic shared that he received information from sources he considered reliable, indicating that the nun had been attacked by migrants.
Vlahovic remarked, “I wouldn’t have shared that unless it was from a source I trust completely. Once we have more information, I’ll be sure to disclose it.” He later reaffirmed his report, asserting that a nun was indeed attacked and that the assailant was a migrant.
Following her hospitalization, it was reported that an unidentified individual with a knife approached Zurno and was later charged with the assault. However, investigations led the police to conclude that Zurno had acquired a knife and may have injured herself.
The police are now preparing to file charges against her for allegedly making a false statement regarding the incident. Croatia Week cited that emergency medical services were dispatched to aid the nun, while officials indicated that there had been misleading reports about what transpired.
Vlahovic expressed concern, stating that Zurno is unable to represent her own account because “she is incapacitated and can no longer defend herself.”
Despite the developments, Vlahovic maintained, “I stand by my initial report. I had faith in what the nun reported, and I still believe there’s validity in her claims.” Zurno, originally from Bosnia, is part of the Sisters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul and resides at the Frankopanska Monastery in Zagreb. She is also known for her involvement in soccer, even having led a program for Laudato TV.
In a previous interview, Zurno mentioned, “Success in soccer requires daily training, much like spirituality. If you neglect consistent prayer, you’ll grow complacent and unproductive in life.”
Interestingly, the stabbing incident coincided with an attack on two US National Guard members in Washington, D.C., in which assailants allegedly shouted “Allah Akbar” before the attack.
As of now, Zagreb police have yet to respond to requests for comment about the situation. Attempts to reach out to Vlahovic for further clarification have also gone unanswered.
