(Quebec) The leaders of the Great Mosque of Quebec said they were disappointed, but ready to turn the page on Friday after the decision of the Supreme Court of Canada, during a press conference organized at the scene of the carnage of Alexandre Bissonnette .
Posted at 12:06 p.m.
“The fear of the families of the victims is to see their children grow up and who, in 25 years, will come across their father’s killer in the streets of Quebec,” said Mohamed Labidi, president of the Islamic Cultural Center of Quebec ( CCIQ).
The CCIQ shared its “disappointment” after the decision of the highest court in the country.
On Friday morning, the Supreme Court struck down a controversial Harper-era provision that allowed extremely long prison sentences for multiple murders.
She also confirmed that the 40-year prison sentence imposed by the Superior Court of Quebec on Bissonnette was unconstitutional. The killer will be able to leave after 25 years, from 2042, if the parole board accepts it.
“In our opinion, this decision does not take into due consideration the atrocity and the scourge of the multiple murders which are multiplying in North America, as well as the hateful, Islamophobic and racist aspect of the crime,” said Mr. Labidi.
The leaders of the CCIQ are nevertheless delighted with the end of this judicial chapter which was particularly painful, stretched over several years and went before three different courts.
“We accept, because there is no other recourse. Our only recourse is to turn the page,” said CCIQ spokesperson Boufeldja Benabdallah.
But the man believes, however, that the decision of the Supreme Court comes to “break the balance”. “We take into account the rehabilitation of an individual, […] but at the same time, the families who have been affected must also feel that they have won their case, that the killer is being punished for his crimes. »
Less Islamophobia in Quebec?
These leaders of the Muslim community of Quebec now wish to leave these particularly painful years behind them. Mohamed Labidi, whose car was set on fire shortly after the January 29, 2017 attack, notes that Islamophobia is declining in the capital.
“There are still pitfalls, there are still people sending us hateful messages. But we feel that things are improving,” he said. “One of the good things that this tragic and painful event has brought is a rapprochement between the Muslim community and the citizens of Quebec. We felt it in these difficult years. »
“We want to turn the page, we want to turn the page,” insists Mr. Benabdallah. “I have cried enough. It’s time to say “it’s over” and to work on living together. »