Four years on the terrorist shooting that left six Muslim worshippers dead, Canadian prime minister and members of Parliament marked the anniversary of the Quebec City mosque shooting on Friday, January 29, calling for action to fight against racism and discrimination against Canada’s Muslim community.
“Every year on this day, we will honor the victims, and we will recommit ourselves to fighting the discrimination and hate that took them from us,” Trudeau said Friday from outside Rideau Cottage, Global News reported.
“No one should ever be afraid because of the way they pray. Not in Canada. And not anywhere around the world.”
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In his speech, Trudeau announced that Jan. 29 will become an official day of remembrance for the victims of the attack and a time to call for action against Islamophobia, defending people’s right to worship free from violence.
The day will be officially called the National Day of Remembrance of the Quebec City Mosque Attack and Action Against Islamophobia.
“The duty to remember is the duty of honor and respect. Four years ago, six Canadians united by their faith fell victim to the bullets of a killer. This was an act of terrorism inspired by Islamophobia,” Conservative MP Gérard Deltell said in the House of Commons.
“Islamophobia and all phobias based on religious beliefs have no place and must be condemned without any conditions. These forms of violence have no place in Canada. Your memory will be preserved forever; we will not forget you ever.”
Sad Moments
Four years ago, a Canadian gunman opened fire at a Quebec City mosque on the evening of January 29, 2017.
The victims were Mamadou Tanou Barry, Ibrahima Barry, Khaled Belkacemi, Abdelkrim Hassane, Azzeddine Soufiane and Aboubaker Thabti, who were killed shortly after finishing evening prayers.
Alexandre Bissonnette, the man responsible for the Quebec City mosque shooting, received a life in prison sentence with no chance of parole for 25 years.
Last month, the city of Quebec unveiled a memorial for the mosque victims, serving as a symbol to human resilience and unity.
In January 2020, Afghan Canadian director Ariel Nasr released The Mosque: A Community’s Struggle, a documentary on those affected by the tragic terrorist attack on Quebec mosque.