Latest news with #NationalDayofRemembrance
Telegraph
19-03-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
Terror attack victims to be honoured with National Day of Remembrance
Victims and survivors of terrorist atrocities will be honoured with a National Day of Remembrance, the Home Office has announced. Dan Jarvis, the security minister, said the Government would seek opinions on how the day should recognise the suffering of victims and survivors of all terror attacks involving Britons. A 12-week consultation will allow victims and the public to help decide tone, timing and scale. There is already a UN-backed international day of remembrance and tribute to the victims of terrorism, August 21. Some survivors of terrorist atrocities – including Travis Frain, who was injured in the Westminster Bridge attack in 2017 – called for a national day to recognise that they were the innocent victims of violence directed at the state. Mr Frain said: 'Recognition and remembrance are key to building societal resilience against violent extremism, and I welcome today's announcement… 'I'm pleased to see that this Government recognises the importance of these issues and the role that they can play in facilitating the recovery of those impacted by horrific acts of terrorism.' Victim support hub Mr Jarvis also announced that the Government would set up a dedicated support hub for victims and survivors, to ensure they had a single point of contact after a terror attack rather than having to seek help and present their case multiple times to different agencies. Mr Jarvis said: 'The impact of a terrorist attack is long-lasting and evolving. Victims and survivors of terrorism need the highest levels of support to recover and rebuild their lives. These reforms will significantly enhance the support available to those affected. 'I would like to pay tribute to the bravery and courage of all those who helped to shape these reforms and pledge my commitment to ensuring victims and survivors of terrorism receive the support and recognition they deserve.' Brendan Cox, co-founder of Survivors Against Terror, said: 'Survivors of terror attacks have been crying out for change for years. Today's double announcement is a major step forward in giving survivors and victims the recognition they deserve and the support that they need. 'Terrorists aim to divide and weaken our society. Our best response is to hold together, and stage one of that is looking after those who have suffered the most.' The Government also pledged to enhance communication with victims, ensuring they know what support is available, and to improve support for children and young survivors. The Ministry of Justice is currently reviewing the criminal injuries compensation scheme, through which victims of terror attacks seek financial help.
Iraqi News
16-03-2025
- Politics
- Iraqi News
Prime Minister: Halabja Tragedy One of the Most Criminal Acts of Genocide
Baghdad-INA Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani confirmed on Sunday that the Halabja massacre, Shaaban uprising, Anfal, and the mass graves of children and women, committed in cold blood against the people by the repressive apparatus and the dictatorial regime, represent one of the most heinous violations of our time at the hands of a regime that some are trying to beautify and defend. The Prime Minister's media office said in a statement received by the Iraqi News Agency (INA): that "Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani received a group of families of martyrs and victims of the ousted dictatorial regime and shared an iftar meal with them during the holy month of Ramadan, coinciding with the National Day of Remembrance for the Crimes of the Saddamist Ba'ath Regime Against Our Honorable People."
CBC
30-01-2025
- CBC
'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.
The Guardian
30-01-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Hostages released and a protest over whales: photos of the day
Wreckage of the crashed jet in the Potomac River. Rescue boats search the waters after the plane, on approach to Reagan National airport, crashed into the river, outside Washington, DC. The regional jet from Kansas crashed after colliding mid-air with a military helicopter near the airport, prompting a major emergency response and grounding all flights Photograph: Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP/Getty Images Rescuers work at the site of a damaged residential building after shelling in northeastern Ukraine. At least four people were killed and nine others injured in the Russian drone attack Photograph: State Emergency Service Of Ukraine Handout/EPA A large Palestinian flag hangs on a damaged building ahead of the handover of hostages to members of the International Committee of the Red Cross. The move is part of a ceasefire and a hostages-prisoners swap deal between Hamas and Israel Photograph: Dawoud Abu Alkas/Reuters Hamas militants escort Israeli hostage Agam Berger before handing her over to a Red Cross team as part of their third hostage-prisoner exchange Photograph: Omar Al-Qattaa/AFP/Getty Images Family members and supporters of Berger react as they watch a broadcast of her during her release. Berger, a soldier, was seized from her army base in southern Israel during the deadly 7 October attack by Hamas Photograph: Tomer Appelbaum/Reuters Palestinian militant group Islamic Jihad and Hamas fighters escort Arbel Yehoud to hand her over to a Red Cross team as part of their third hostage-prisoner exchange. Photograph: Eyad Baba/AFP/Getty Images The CN Tower is illuminated with green lights to mark the National Day of Remembrance of the Quebec City Mosque Attack and Action Against Islamophobia Photograph: Anadolu/Getty Images (left to right) Heidi Reichinnek, Gregor Gysi and Ines Schwerdtner, co-leader of leftwing Die Linke, dance at the political party's election campaign launch rally. Germany is scheduled to hold snap federal parliamentary elections on 23 February Photograph:Supporters hold photos of pro-choice activist Justyna Wydrzyńska before a hearing at the appeals court. Wydrzyńska was found guilty in 2023 of supplying a pregnant woman with abortion pills in Poland's first such case Photograph: Sergei Gapon/AFP/Getty Images Maria Martins de Souza, a nurse from the Brazilian state Sistema Unico de Saude or Unified Health System, checks patient Josenilda Vitoriosa, 57. The nurse visits vulnerable and elderly people, and patients with reduced mobility, in the working-class district of Caju in the north of Rio de Janeiro, attending to high rates of dehydration and high blood pressure caused by high temperatures. Photograph: Aline Massuca/Reuters Environmentalists and protesters rallying against a gas project in the Gulf of California, which they say can endanger whales, gather at Mexico City's Zocalo main square Photograph: Henry Romero/Reuters Rapper Rakim Mayers, aka A$AP Rocky, leaves court during his felony assault trial at the Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center in downtown Los Angeles, California. The 36-year-old faces two counts of assault with a semi-automatic firearm during confrontations with Terell Ephron Photograph: Frazer Harrison/AFP/Getty Images Pilgrims bathe on the banks of the confluence of the Ganges and Yamuna rivers at the Kumbh Mela festival in Uttar Pradesh. The festival is expected to go down as the largest ever gathering of humanity, pulling in an estimated 400 million individuals over a 40-day period. The busiest day so far saw an estimated 17.5 million people attend Photograph: David Levene/The Guardian A model prepares backstage for the presentation of Spanish designer Juana Martin's Spring/Summer 2025 Haute Couture collection during Paris Fashion Week Photograph: Teresa Suárez/EPA Anthony Mackie attends the UK photocall of Marvel Studios' Captain America: Brave New World in Trafalgar Square Photograph: Timfor The Walt Disney Company Limited Performers pose for a photo before going on stage at the Longtan Park Temple Fair on the second day of Lunar New Year celebrations Photograph: Aaron Favila/AP
