2017 Quebec Mosque Attack: Survivors, Victim Receive Medal of Bravery
In a ceremony held at the Citadelle of Quebec, Governor General Mary Simon conferred medals of bravery to 34 individuals, including four survivors of the 2017 Quebec City mosque attack, who displayed remarkable courage while attempting to thwart the assailant. Among the recipients, one posthumous honor was bestowed upon a victim of the attack.
These distinguished insignia, reserved for those Canadians who exhibited exceptional valor in risking their lives to safeguard the well-being of friends, family, or strangers, served as a poignant recognition of their selfless actions.
The tragic events unfolded on the evening of January 29, 2017, when a gunman entered the Islamic Cultural Centre in the Sainte-Foy neighborhood, resulting in the loss of six lives and injuries to 19 individuals.
The recipients of the Medal of Bravery, Saïd Akjour, Hakim Chambaz, Aymen Derbali, and Mohamed Khabar, were acknowledged for their unwavering bravery during this harrowing incident. Additionally, Azzedine Soufiane, who tragically lost his life while attempting to disarm the assailant, was posthumously honored with the Star of Courage, accepted on his behalf by his daughters, Zineb and Hajar Soufiane, CBC reported on Wednesday.
Governor General Mary Simon expressed, "Today we present these insignia as the ultimate recognition of courage and sacrifice. Today we pay tribute to your brave and selfless actions. All of you made a choice to try to save a life. You gave the most important gift in an impossible life-altering situation — you gave the gift of hope… You showed how much you care. Bravery is an act of caring, after all."
Aymen Derbali, who suffered severe injuries and now uses a wheelchair, expressed his deep appreciation for the prestigious award and the heartfelt gratitude from the governor.
He shared, "I am very honoured and it's an act of acknowledgement that is very rewarding for me and all the others who were at the mosque that night." Derbali had been near the mosque's entrance when the gunman opened fire, bravely attempting to subdue the attacker despite being shot multiple times, which ultimately left him paraplegic.
Hakim Chambaz, in the midst of the chaos, protected a young girl who had become paralyzed with fear. Azzedine Soufiane, with unwavering resolve, rushed toward the assailant from across the room in an attempt to halt the attack, aided by Saïd Akjour and Mohamed Khabar.
Soufiane managed to seize the assailant's weapon but was tragically shot five times, succumbing to his injuries.
Aymen Derbali emphasized the importance of remembering the victims while calling for a collective effort to combat Islamophobia and hatred, saying, "It's important not to forget but especially to put in effort and make sure this never happens again… We honored the memory of the victims, there should be an effort to eradicate the source of the tragedy, which is Islamophobia. It's our duty to fight against Islamophobia and all forms of racism and discrimination."
Source: Agencies
