For the second year in a row, a tribute ceremony to the victims of terrorism took place across France on Thursday. In Toulouse, it was near the Capitol that it took place, in the presence of the victims or their relatives.
The tribute ceremony to the victims of terrorism took place this Thursday morning at Square de Gaulle in Toulouse, in front of the tree of remembrance planted in memory of the victims of the 2012 attacks. Latifa Ibn Ziaten, mother of Imad, the first victim of the Mohamed Merah attacks in March 2012 was present at the ceremony. Since this tragedy, she has been going to colleges to convey a message of tolerance and the fight against fanaticism. “The fight is not over. As we can see at the moment with all the acts of gratuitous violence, the young people need help, and the parents must be 100% present, it is their duty. We must help young people because they are the future. “
“Mourning is also the fear of forgetting”
Michèle Jund, another mother in mourning, also participated in this tribute. For her, the healing process will undoubtedly still be long. Her 26-year-old daughter, Myriam, died on August 9, 2020 in a terrorist attack in Niger while she was on a humanitarian mission for the Acted association. “It is important for the state to recognize the commitment of these eight young people. With this tribute, we feel supported, and it shows that we will not forget and that we will not forget it. Mourning is also the fear of forgetting. “Meeting people in the same situation as us helps us,” adds Simon, Miriam’s older brother. They then understand to us that this is not always the case with our loved ones. “
“What happened to me has become a force”
During this ceremony, Alain Vella, a 48-year-old Toulouse native from the Isle of Beauty was awarded the national medal of recognition for victims of terrorism. “This recognition is important, I am a survivor and I think of those who were not so fortunate. I also want to tell the victims that we can still move forward in life, what happened to me has become a strength, now I take advantage of every moment. For years, the 40-year-old has struggled to apply this philosophy. Alain Vella was 25 when his parents, his sister and himself were taken hostage by Corsican separatists. If he was not injured, the psychological damage, on the other hand, was significant. “When someone shows up at your house and puts a gun to your temple, it’s really traumatic. This event prevented me from living for a long time. “
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