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raised of $400,000 CAD goal
March 31st. 2018
Aymen Derbali was visibly emotional as he accepted a cheque for more than $400,000 on Saturday night.
After being left paralyzed from the chest down just over a year ago in a shooting at a Quebec City mosque, the father of three will never walk again.
But he will be able to live in an accessible home with his family thanks to a crowdfunding campaign launched in December by Toronto-based non-profit group DawaNet, which garnered $416,335 to help Derbali purchase a home adapted to his disability.
Quebec Mosque Shooting Hero
Aymen Derbali saved the lives of many on January 29, 2017, when he took several bullets during the shooting at a Quebec City mosque, which left him paralyzed. Now, we can help by providing him with a safe and accessible home.
Tariq/DawaNet
Dear friends,
As'salamu alaykum; may peace be upon you.
On Friday, December 15th, 2017, members of DawaNet went for their monthly trip to Sainte Foy, Quebec City to meet the congregants, and community that attend Centre Culturel Islamique de Québec (CCIQ). The team had previously gone to meet with the families of the victims of the shooting, as well as to present them with the $400,000 donation that they raised (you can see the page here).
DawaNet now visits the community and provides programs for families, such as sermons at the mosque, as well as programs for the youth, and counseling for anyone who needs the support. When asking the community what other needs there are, everyone collectively said one thing: Aymen Derbali needs a home.
Tariq/DawaNet
He spent two months in a coma and will never walk again. The fragments of two bullets remain lodged in Derbali's spinal cord. He is a father of three and currently lives in an apartment that is inaccessible to his needs. He is only able to spend one day a week with his family because his home is inaccessible. With an accessible home, he will finally be able to come home to his wife and children.
Tariq/DawaNet
The Globe and Mail wrote about the incident:
He crouched as if he was going to pounce on the attacker. At that moment, he says, the gunman shot him in the right knee and fired a second bullet into his chin.At least if he takes a few bullets, he remembers thinking, the shooter will either empty his gun or police will arrive before there are other victims. "I tried not to panic or flee," he says.
"I tried to concentrate so that he wouldn't fire on others. I would rather have been paralyzed for life than to have fled and been left unscathed, without having done something to help people."
DARIO AYALA/THE GLOBE AND MAIL
Aymen Derbali risked his life, to save lives. This was an act of faith and pure selflessness.
DawaNet has been working locally and on the scene to see how we can extend a helping hand to someone whose entire life changed after that one night. The community has looked into about 50 homes that could be accessible to Derbali. They have found one home that needs to be approved by Derbali's doctor.
NowThis: Muslim Community Raises Money to Support Paralyzed Hero
BUZZFEED: People Are Pitching In To Buy A Quebec Mosque Shooting Victim A New Home
CBC: 'This is a Canadian hero': Group launches campaign to help buy new home for Mosque shooting victim
Global News: ‘He’s a Canadian hero’: Muslim community raises money for paralyzed mosque shooting victim
Montreal Gazette: Fundraising for survivor of mosque shooting collects over $47,000 in 3 days
Al-Jazeera: Canadians rally support for Quebec mosque attack 'hero'
CBC: 'Absolutely heartwarming': Group raises $150K in a week for heroic Mosque shooting survivor
The Globe and Mail: Canadians give generously to help man paralyzed in Quebec City mosque shooting
The Independent: Quebec mosque shooting: More than $175,000 raised for disabled man shot seven times protecting worshippers
The Siasat Daily: Aymen, a Hero for Canadians. Read the story to know the details
MuslimLink: Contribute to the United for Aymen Campaign to Support Quebec Mosque Shooting Hero
Toronto Metro: Group raises money to fund new home for survivor of Quebec City mosque shooting
A Quebec City mosque was at the centre of a brutal terrorist attack on January 29th, 2017, when a lone shooter entered the Centre Culturel Islamique de Québec (CCIQ) in Sainte-Foy, Quebec and began shooting. Six men were killed, 19 more were injured in the first such attack at a place of worship on Canadian soil.
YOUR LAST WALK IN THE MOSQUE details the horrific events of that night through the recollections of the survivors, including from those were severely injured in the attack or who witness the terror unfold. For the first time on film, we hear what impact the shooting had on the families of those who were killed as they share their harrowing reflections of loss and trauma.
The documentary explores how the CCIQ was a target of hate crime and the past, raising critical questions about how to protect communities in a time of growing anti-Muslim sentiment.
Feelings of sadness, loss, empathy and hope are shared throughout this film which demonstrates the resilience of a targeted community working to heal from an unimaginable tragedy.
Trailer: Watch here.
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