Two victims of 2017 mosque attack receive medals for acts of courage

Quebec City mosque shooting survivor Aymen Derbalisaid reaching teenagers is the key to curbing hate crimes, in accepting a medal for bravery from the government of Quebecat the National Assembly.

Derbali, who was hit by seven bullets and left paralyzed in the Jan 29, 2017 mosque attack,tried to draw the shooter's attention away from otherworshippers.

"I didn't want to share those bullets," he joked at Monday's ceremony.

Derbalihas spoken often about the attack, and he now intends to take his message directly to teenagers.

He said that once people are in their 20s, it's too late to reach them to change their views.

Derbali's act of bravery, and the sacrifice of his physical independence, has garnered him support from around the world. Friends raised$400,000 tohelphim and his family buy a new home, adaptedto accommodatehiswheelchair.

Derbali's 10-year-old sonAyoub was at the National Assembly for the award ceremony and said he is very proud of his father.

Azzedine Soufiane also received the bravery award, posthumously. Soufiane,one of six men killedthat night,managed to pounce on the gunman and overpower him for several seconds, but was killed when the shooter broke free and resumed firing his weapon.

Justice Minister Sonia LeBel, who presented the medals, said it'simportant to commemorate the men's acts of bravery.

Islamophobia in the province

Last week, Quebec Premier Franois Legault said that Islamophobiadoesn't exist in Quebec.

"Just because there's no trend in Islamophobiadoesn'tmean there aren't people who are Islamophobic," LeBel said Monday.

Derbali reminded Quebecers that theshooter who left him in a wheelchair "targeted worshippers."

Alexandre Bissonnette, who is to be sentenced on Friday, has pleaded guilty to six counts of first-degree murder and six counts of attempted murder for the attack.