Toulouse, in December 2012, the mother of one of the soldiers killed by Merah, Latifa Ibn Ziaten, during a visit to Toulouse.

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Fred.Scheiber

On March 11, 2012, in Toulouse, his son Imad, non-commissioned officer of the 1st Parachute Train Regiment, fell under the bullets of terrorist Mohamed Merah.

Since then, Latifa Ibn Ziaten has traveled across France and the world to meet young people to prevent them from falling into the trap of radicalization.

This Thursday, this 61-year-old Franco-Moroccan woman will receive the Zayed Brotherhood Prize, awarded Thursday in Abu Dhabi by Pope Francis and the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar.

A distinction that will also be awarded to the Secretary General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, on the occasion of the first International Day of Human Franternity.

This is not the first time that this woman has been rewarded for her fight in favor of interreligious dialogue.

In 2016, in Washington, she received alongside thirteen other committed activists, the "Courageous Women" award.

His engagement was born the day after the death of his son.

While in the Izards district, where Imad's assassin was born, she had met young people who had presented the terrorist as a martyr.

She then told them to be the mother of one of her victims.

Pursue its commitment

This is where her desire to "reach out to the other" was born, she explains.

To achieve this, she created her association "Imad for Youth and Peace" and took her pilgrim's staff to go to colleges and high schools to meet young people, who often feel forgotten and rejected.

But also in remand centers or homes.

Above all, we must "invest in supporting young people" to avoid abuses, argues Latifa Ibn Ziaten.

This distinction, she prepares to perceive it as "a great honor", something which "will really help me in my work", says the one who is "very touched".

“You have to succeed in knowing what is going on in the mind of a young person and what solutions we can offer him,” she explains.

When you don't have the chances to succeed, someone can get you back.

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Society

VIDEO.

"I will not let go of this fight, I must continue despite the pressure", assures Latifa Ibn Ziaten

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A call from personalities to strengthen “fraternity”, an “orphan” value

  • Terrorism

  • Mohamed merah

  • Youth

  • Peace

  • Toulouse

  • Religion

  • Radicalization

  • Society