'I lost their smiles': Quebec City Muslim community counters hate 8 years after deadly mosque attack
Images of the night of Jan. 29, 2017 still come back to Boufeldja Benabdallah.
The call he received; pulling up to the mosque he co-founded; finding it completely surrounded by police.
"It was a panic," said Benabdallah. "All these images remind us of this sadness."
Six men died after a gunman opened fire in the Islamic Cultural Centre in the Sainte-Foy neighbourhood of Quebec City. It left 19 injured and 17 children fatherless.
Years later, Benabdallah says it's important to keep the memory of the victims alive.
He remembers Azzeddine Soufiane, a smiley man who would tip toe into the mosque to pray silently.
Mamadou Tanou Barry was "joyous." Ibrahima Barry was a serious yet friendly man who helped support immigrants in the community.
Abdelkrim Hassane was the "footballer," who would talk at length about the championship, while Aboubaker Thabti loved volunteering for activities with kids. Khaled Belkacemi was a Laval University professor and Benabdallah's close friend.
"I have good memories of them," said Benabdallah.
"In our philosophy, we say that after distress, something good always comes along. You mustn't despair. I'm in that stage."
Sitting just outside the entrance to the mosque's prayer room, Nesrine Adda and Sakina Ouchane wore dark green felt squares — a symbol of peace and the same colour as the prayer room's carpet eight years ago.
Adda says her dad came to the mosque on the night of the attack.
"I don't even know how to explain the feeling because it was … a moment that was very shocking," said Adda.
"It was very traumatic for him."
Mohamed Labidi, president of the Islamic centre, says the six men who died were his friends whom he would see regularly.
"They would offer me beautiful smiles every time," said Labidi, his voice cracking. "And I lost their smiles."
WATCH | Mohamed Labidi says Azzedine Soufiane died a hero:
Mohamed Labidi describes how Azzedine Soufiane tried to tackle Quebec City mosque shooter
8 years ago
Duration 1:26
Mohamed Labidi describes how Azzedine Soufiane tried to tackle the shooter at the site of the Quebec City mosque attack.
'A good future ahead of us'
Eight years later, on the National Day of Remembrance of the Quebec City Mosque Attack and Action against Islamophobia, Labidi says they're highlighting the importance of combating hate.
"I'm an optimist," said Labidi. "You cannot just see the glass half empty ... There is a good future ahead of us."
He says there's been progress to counter Islamophobia in Quebec, but that sometimes stereotypes and political rhetoric can bring them "back to the start."
Labidi referenced the idea of a prayer ban as a recent example. Last December, Quebec Premier François Legault indicated he wanted to ban praying in public, saying seeing people praying "in the streets, in public parks, is not something we want in Quebec."
Labidi says Muslims continue to be singled out.
For the first time this year, the mosque set up information sessions open to the public. Unfortunately, he says almost no Quebecers came to visit.
"Hardly anyone came. And to that, I ask myself, 'why?'" said Labidi.
"It's disappointing," said Arif Virani, the federal minister of justice, who spoke at the eighth anniversary commemoration.
"But I don't lose hope about the curiosity and the interest that exists. I've seen it in my own riding in Toronto. I know that curiosity exists all around the country … I think we just have to double down on our efforts."
He says there hasn't been enough progress in the fight against Islamophobia.
Including the men who died in the Quebec City attack, a total of 11 people have died as a result of Islamophobia in Canada since 2017, he said.
"That's a statistic that leads the G7. I don't want to lead the G7 in those kinds of statistics. So we've got a lot of work to do."
Benabdallah says it's critical to continue to form connections to foster unity.
"I always say that the majority of people love other people," said Benabdallah.
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