‘May peace reign in your hearts’
Events marking Quebec City mosque shooting anniversary begin this weekend
QUEBEC A year after a gunman opened fire during evening prayers at a Quebec City mosque, Boufeldja Benabdallah, the mosque’s co-founder, stood before a crowded conference room Friday and asked Quebecers to use this weekend to honour the victims and help build toward a better future.
“We have four days,” Benabdallah said. “We will remember, we will testify, and we will build.
“There will be tears, we can’t hide it,” he added, holding back his own. “But we must build toward the future. The same way we have all year.”
Benabdallah was the last person invited to speak at Quebec City’s Palais Montcalm for the first of several commemorative events being held this weekend — a conference titled “Living together with our differences.”
Hosted by Montreal’s Centre for Prevention of Radicalization Leading to Violence, the event brought together university professors and experts to honour the victims and discuss social issues that came to light following the shooting.
“In Quebec, there’s a before and after Jan. 29, 2017,” the centre’s director, Herman Deparice-Okomba, told the crowd as he opened the conference.
“People forget. It’s not only the Muslim community that was touched by this. It’s all Quebecers,” he said in an interview. “One day, violence knocked on our door. And we need to talk about it to ensure it never, ever happens again.
“We need to take a moment to stop and reflect on it. We need to learn from it.”
The day began with a minute of silence to remember the victims, followed by a solemn tribute. Their names and ages were projected on a screen in white writing against a simple black background: Mamadou Tanou Barry, 42; Abdelkrim Hassane, 41; Khaled Belkacemi, 60; Aboubaker Thabti, 44; Azzeddine Soufiane, 57; and Ibrahima Barry, 39. The six men left behind grieving widows, the crowd was reminded, as well as 17 orphans.
Panel discussions touched on themes including religion’s place in Quebec, how survivors of the shooting continue to grapple with post-traumatic stress disorders, and whether Islamophobia’s presence in the province has been blown out of proportion by a vocal minority and “popular and sensational” columnists.
“We understand all humans are naturally afraid of the unknown. That’s normal,” said panellist Samira Laouni.
“But how do we go from the fear of Islam as an unknown to rejecting Muslims, and then, in extreme cases, Islamophobia?”
During a question period, 72-year-old Quebec City resident Michel Belleau stood and asked Laouni about something he said he’s been having a hard time squaring.
“It’s not a reproach,” he said, “but your culture is profoundly characterized by religion and being Muslim.”
On the other hand, said Belleau, who identified himself as an atheist, Quebec has moved toward becoming a more secular society through the years. Those differences have created extreme positions on both sides, he said. “How do we bridge that gap?” he asked.
“We need to be open,” Laouni answered. “We need to live together in respect. ”
Deparice-Okomba had said he hoped the conference would bring together people who believe in the idea of living together and people “who have doubts, worries and questions” about it.
“Extremism, radicalization, they feed on ignorance,” he said. “They feed on the fear of others. So those who are afraid, those who have questions, they need to discuss it. They can’t keep it to themselves.”
Roughly 150 people attended the conference. As they left, they were invited to write brief thoughts for survivors on a blackboard near the entrance. “Courage to all widows and children and wounded,” read the first message. “May peace reign in your hearts.”
Commemorative events are planned for the rest of the weekend and Monday.
One day, violence knocked on our door. And we need to talk about it to ensure it never, ever happens again.