Survivors and victim of 2017 Quebec mosque attack awarded medals of bravery

Four survivors of the 2017 Quebec City mosque attack who tried to stop the gunman were among the 34 people awarded medals of bravery Tuesday byGov. Gen.Mary Simon. One of the men who died inthe attack was honoured posthumously.

The insignia are reserved for Canadians who risked their lives to save friends, family or even total strangers.

Six people were killed and 19 injured when a gunman burst into the Islamic Cultural Centre in the Sainte-Foy neighbourhood just after Sunday evening prayerson Jan. 29, 2017.

Sad Akjour, Hakim Chambaz, Aymen Derbali and Mohamed Khabar were all awarded the Medal of Braveryat the ceremony at the Citadelleof Quebec.

Azzedine Soufiane, who was killed by the gunman as he tried to disarm him, was awarded the Star of Courage posthumously. It was presented to his daughters, Zineb and Hajar Soufiane.

"Today we present these insignia as the ultimate recognition of courage and sacrifice. Today we pay tribute to your brave and selfless actions," said Simon.

"All of you made a choice to try to save a life. You gave the most important gift in an impossible life-altering situation you gave the gift of hope You showed how much you care. Bravery is an act of caring, after all."

Derbali, who was severely injured and is now in a wheelchair,said he was touched to receive the prestigious award and hear the Governor General's words of thanks.

"I am very honoured and it's an act of acknowledgement that is very rewarding for me and all the others who were at the mosque that night," said Derbali.

• Get the news you need without restrictions.Download our free CBC News App.

Derbali had been near the mosque's entrance when the gunmanopened fire. He rushed toward himto destabilize him and was shot several times, but still tried to get back up several times. Derbali is now paraplegic.

Meanwhile, Chambaz had protected a little girl who had frozen in the middle of the room. Then, as the gunman hid to reload his weapon, Soufiane ran toward him from the other end of the room to try to stop him, with the help of Akjour and Khabar. Soufiane grabbed the attacker's weaponbut was shot five times and died of his injuries.

Derbali took the time to remember the victimsbut stressed that the conversation must include fightingIslamophobia and hatred.

"It's important not to forgetbut especially to put in effort and make sure this never happens again," he said.

"We honoured the memory of the victims, there should be an effort to eradicate the source of the tragedy, which is Islamophobia. It's our duty to fight against Islamophobia and all forms of racism and discrimination."

Derbali was at the ceremony with his family, including his 14-year-old son, Ayoub.

"Of course my dad is a hero, no one could have done that," said Ayoub.

"To destabilize the killer and try to find solutions, fight against the person and defend the others in the mosque no one can do that, it takes a lot of courage."

About 4,000 Canadians have received the award since 1972.

WATCH | Survivor of mosque shooting speaks at Januarymemorial ceremony:

'I improve every day,' says survivor of Quebec City mosque shooting

2 years ago

Duration 3:45

Sad Akjour spoke at a remembrance ceremony six years after a deadly mosque attack in Quebec City that saw six men killed and 19 injured.