Commemorations of the slaughter of the mosque : “there was a before and an after January 29,”

Photo Sophie Side

Sophie Side

Friday, 26 January, 2018 13:55

UPDATE
Friday, January 26, 2018 14:07

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“In Quebec, there has been a before and an after 29 January [2017]. The hatred has struck at us. […] Hatred is not an option in Quebec. This is an option, it is peace, openness and respect for difference. “

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It is in these words that Herman Deparice-Okomba, the director general of the Center for the prevention of radicalization leading to violence, has opened the conference “Living together with our differences” at the Palais Montcalm on Friday morning.

This activity was attended by a little more than a hundred of citizens, including many of the muslim community, has launched four days of commemoration a year after the shooting, which had six deaths in the Great Mosque of Quebec.

After the broadcast of a short video in memory of the victims fell under the bullets of the shooter, a moment of silence was observed, followed by a reading from the koran.

The panelists – professors, doctors, researchers, and even one of the victims of the bombing, Nizar Ghali discussed the issues and challenges on the theme of ” living together “.

An invitation felt good

The co-founder of the islamic cultural Centre of Québec (CCIQ), Boufeldja Benabdallah, took the podium to invite all citizens to participate in these celebrations, which will culminate Monday evening by a large gathering in the parking lot of the church of Notre-Dame-de-Foy, a few steps from the scene of the tragedy.

“The tears are going to be there, he shouldn’t hide it, but we need to build tomorrow, as it has built throughout the year,” he said at the microphone with emotion, a tremolo in the voice.

“We remember, we bear witness, but we must build “, he recalled.

“It’s going to be the open doors of the mosque : come, see the place where happened the tragedy and come in and read all the testimonials received in the last year we have lined the walls of the mosque “, he stressed.

COMMEMORATION ACTIVITIES

Friday, 26 January

• 19 h 30 to 21 h 30 : the Ceremony for the muslim community in the Great Mosque of Quebec.

Saturday, 27 January

• 13 h 15-h : Projection of the documentary “Your last walk in the mosque” at the University of Laval (registration required)
• 18 h 20 h 30 : Meeting with the families of the victims and exposure of the messages of sympathy received in 2017 when the doors open to the Great Mosque of Quebec.

Sunday, January 28,

• 19 h 20 h 30 : spiritual Contemplation open to all at the Youth Pavilion. The evening, hosted by Eve-Marie Lortie and Khadija Said, will be punctuated by testimonies of relatives of the victims.

Monday, January 29 (day of birthday)

• 18 h to 20 h : Commemorating the citizen in the parking lot of the church of Notre-Dame-de-Foy, a few steps from the place of the drama. A time will be devoted to the families of the victims and those survivors. Political figures will speak.