'Hearts are broken': Funeral held for 16-year-old Halifax homicide victim
Community members gathered at a Bedford, N.S., mosque for Ahmad Al Marrach — a 16-year-old murder victim — for his funeral on Wednesday.
A steady stream of cars headed to the Nova Scotia Islamic Community Center (NSICC). Within minutes, the parking lot was full of people there to pay their respects.
Family and friends greeted each other at the door with tears and long embraces.
The inside of the community centre was no different as heads were bowed in grief and prayers for Al Marrach.
“He was a good person and it was a tragedy. This happened to someone like him is just crazy to think about,” said Abdalbari Elsaraiti, a classmate of Al Marrach.
Elsaraiti, along with others from the school, attended the funeral. They were all shocked to hear Al Marrach had been killed.
“My heart dropped. I dropped my phone. Everything just dropped,” Elsaraiti said.
Al Marrach was allegedly stabbed inside a Halifax Shopping Centre parkade Monday, and he later died in hospital from his injuries. No one has been charged in his death.
Ummah Masjid and Community Centre social worker Hanaa Rashid knew the family through the mosque. She described Almarrach as “a young person who liked to scooter and do what other young people like to do.”
She said the community is devastated by his death.
“A lot of shock. A lot of grief. I think there’s anger too because when someone so young leaves and they leave this world so quickly,” she said.
Friends, family, neighbours, and the Muslim community joined for funeral prayers before the burial.
Even those who did not know the family very well attended.
“Hearts are broken, souls are broken. How does one process the fact that a 16-year-old gets stabbed to death. Where do you begin? I have daughters of my own,” said Fatima Cajee.
Following the prayers, the imam asked the youth to gather to front of the room around Al Marrach’s casket to reflect on life and death.
“Ask yourself this question. If I die now, whatever I did in the past, was it worth it?” A question the imam implored youth to reflect on.
He spoke to them about the importance of making good choices and encouraged them to use the resources community mosques offer when struggling.
Ummah Masjid and Community Centre is hosting an even Wednesday to help youth process the death of Al Marrach.
For more Nova Scotia news visit our dedicated provincial page.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Trudeau 'absolutely' best person to lead the Liberals in next election: LeBlanc says
Cabinet minister Dominic LeBlanc insists he's not planning a leadership campaign to head the Liberal party, should current leader and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau resign, seemingly quashing rumours he's planning to make a move for his boss' job.
Pastrnak scores winner, Bruins down Leafs 2-1 in overtime in Game 7
Sheldon Keefe told his players hockey history would remember them one way or another.
King Charles III’s openness about cancer has helped him connect with people in year after coronation
King Charles III's decision to be open about his cancer diagnosis has helped the new monarch connect with the people of Britain and strengthened the monarchy in the year since his dazzling coronation at Westminster Abbey.
No proof man lied to brother about number of kittens born in litter, B.C. tribunal rules
A man was denied a $5,000 payout from his brother after a B.C. tribunal dismissed his claim disputing how many kittens were born in a litter.
Bombarded with spam texts? Stats show the problem is getting worse in Canada
In particular, messages that involve phishing — an attack where a scammer tries to trick the recipient into clicking a malicious link, downloading malware or sharing sensitive information — are on the rise.
The American paradox of protest: Celebrated and condemned, welcomed and muzzled
Americans cherish the right to assemble, to speak out, to petition for the redress of grievances. It's enshrined in the first of the constitutional amendments. They laud social actions of the past and recognize the advances toward equality that previous generations made, often at risk of life and limb. But those same activities can produce anger and outright opposition when life's routines are interrupted, and wariness that those speaking out are outsiders looking to sow chaos and influence impressionable minds.
William Shatner says he would consider 'Star Trek' return: 'Here comes Captain Kirk!'
The Montreal-born actor, famed for his portrayal of Captain Kirk in "Star Trek," says he is open to reprising the iconic role in the sci-fi franchise as long as the storytelling is stellar.
Bodies recovered in Mexico likely 2 Australians, 1 American who went missing: officials
Three bodies recovered in an area of Baja California are likely to be those of the two Australians and an American who went missing last weekend during a camping and surfing trip, the state prosecutor’s office said Saturday.
A driver dies after crashing into a security barrier around the White House complex, authorities say
A driver died after a vehicle crashed into an outer perimeter gate of the White House complex, and the incident late Saturday was being investigated as a traffic crash, police said. U.S. President Joe Biden was spending the weekend in Delaware, and the Secret Service said there was no threat to the White House.