“Shock”, “sadness”, “anger”. The moving testimonies followed Tuesday in Pointe-aux-Trembles, where a few dozen people gathered for a tribute in front of the apartment where Narjess Ben Yedder, 32, was killed last Friday.
“I feel a lot of sadness today,” said Nathalie Gionet, worker at the Women’s Center of Montreal-East/Pointe-aux-Trembles. We see domestic violence regularly. It is still very taboo to denounce. Unfortunately, it is often the victims who feel guilty, not the abusers. »
Chantal Rouleau, Minister responsible for Social Solidarity and Community Action, and Member of Parliament for Pointe-aux-Trembles in the National Assembly, described the tragedy that killed Ms.me Ben Yedder, who was pregnant at the time she was killed, according to relatives.
PHOTO ROBERT SKINNER, THE PRESS
Chantal Rouleau (right), Member of Parliament for Pointe-aux-Trembles and Minister responsible for Social Solidarity and Community Action
“If a person experiences a situation of abuse, or if we suspect that abuse is being committed, we must report, we must call. There may be lives that depend on it,” she said in front of the residence on Sherbrooke Street East.
Mustapha Mechken, 42 years old, M’s husbandme Ben Yedder was arrested by police on site Friday after calling 9-1-1. He faces a charge of second-degree murder, and is incarcerated until his return to court, scheduled for March 19.
For Dorette Mekamdjio, general director of the Montreal-East/Pointe-aux-Tremble Women’s Center, it was “one victim too many” who lost her life on Friday.
PHOTO ROBERT SKINNER, THE PRESS
A few dozen people gathered for a tribute in front of the apartment where Narjess Ben Yedder, 32, was killed last Friday.
“Is mental illness a reason to kill? We will probably never know. Everyone has the right to life. Everyone,” she said.
Mme Ben Yedder came to Quebec to flourish, added Mme Mekamdjio. “There is no reason to kill a woman. A woman who was in the place that should have been safest for her: her home. »
PHOTO FROM NARJESS BEN YEDDER’S FACEBOOK ACCOUNT
The victim, Narjess Ben Yedder
Linda Basque, coordinator at the Info-Femmes group, said she had been “angry” since the murder. “We cannot accept this. We cannot accept that a woman is killed like that. We must denounce. We must provide the necessary resources. »
Several police officers from the Montreal City Police Service (SPVM), including the commander of neighborhood station 49, Emmanuel Anglade, were also on site to pay their respects and offer comfort to the bereaved.
PHOTO ROBERT SKINNER, THE PRESS
SPVM police officers were present.
“Little signs”
Among the behaviors to watch out for, the speakers who spoke named intimidation to have the password for a partner’s digital devices, the ban on going out alone, the ban on allowing her to hang out with her friends, as well as financial monitoring as indicators that an abusive situation may be underway.
“Domestic violence doesn’t start with 20 stab wounds,” said M.me Mekamdjio. It starts with small signs. If you see these signs, it’s important not to let things go. We need to be allies of the people who are experiencing these situations, and who are perhaps trying to put things into perspective. We must realize that these are not behaviors that are acceptable or normal. »
During his speech, Mr.me Mekamdjio invited women to denounce situations of abuse that they may experience.
“You have to call 9-1-1. You must call SOS Domestic Violence. There are people who are there 24/7. We cannot let another woman lose her life. »