Montreal blood drive marks Muslim Awareness Week, commemorates 2017 Quebec City Mosque attack victims

Muslim Awareness Week’s blood drive in Montreal commemorates the 2017 Quebec City mosque attack victims.

Give blood to share blood is the slogan for this year’s Muslim Awareness Week blood drive in Montreal.

“It’s our duty to commemorate the victims who fell. Unfortunately, the assailant spilled their blood without any reason,” Salam El-Mousawi, the co-founder of Muslim Awareness Week said in an interview.

With a heavy heart, El-Mousawi remembers the fear he felt when he got the call.

“The chief police officers [were] trying to calm us down to pass the message of everything [is] under control for the community because everyone was worried,” he said.

On Jan. 29, 2017, Alexandre Bissonnette killed six men at the Centre culturel islamique du Québec in Quebec City. The event sent shockwaves throughout Canada.

“It wasn’t far from us here in Montreal,” El-Mousawi said. “Victims, they left behind 18 widows, kids and family members. Some of them are now permanently paralyzed. So, this is part, a small part of our contribution.”

The event runs until Friday and representative, Faouzi Rezagui, said the process is easy.

Those interested can book an appointment online at any greater Montreal area branch of Hema Quebec.

“Every 80 seconds someone here in Quebec needs blood, so it makes like we need around 10,000 donations per day,” Rezagui said.

“Each blood donation [...] helps to save three lives,” he noted.

The drive is part of the 7th edition of Muslim Awareness Week’s larger programming. The list of events includes seminars at McGill University and a commemorative event at City Hall.

“It’s not only Muslim Awareness Week, it’s a small initiative,” El-Moussawi explained.

“It means collaboration of the three governmental levels, as well as all the organizations, media, institutions,” he added.

The week’s launch comes as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau met with the families of the six men who were killed in the mosque attack.

Trudeau is reported to have spoken individually with each of those present.

El-Mousawi said he hopes Muslim Awareness Week will inspire understanding and compassion to help prevent another tragedy.