Sir Carlos Arnaldo
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Filipinos in Paris rally - Justice for Sharif!
Esplanade des Droits de l’Homme, Trocadero, Paris
May 24, 2009
 
 
Click to enlarge image.Sharif Ibrahim
1993-2009
 
For May in Paris, it was a hot and sunny day for the thousands of tourists milling around the Place Trocadero. On the Esplanade des Droits de l’Homme just in front, between the two museums, some 500 of the Philippine community and 40 classmates and professors of the College of Trappes came to offer solace, support and silent prayer for the parents and family of the late Sharif Ibrahim, 16 year old student who was stabbed several times on 5 May at the bus stop near his school.

Taken immediately to the Georges Pompidou Hospital in coma, he quickly regained strength, emerged from the coma after a few days and began walking around the room, washing etc. On 13 May, apparently in the shower, the infirmarians did not find him in the room and thought he went downstairs. Upon returning, they found him on the floor, suffering a heart attack.
Click to enlarge image.
 
Prayer Rally
 

Click to enlarge image.Some of the classmates of Sharif from the College of Trappe. Sharif was their basketball champion.
 

At the vigil, the silent prayer was broken every now and then by impromptu shouts of the crowd…” Justice for Sharif, justice for Sharif !!”
Click to enlarge image.Hands in prayer, mind and soul in prayer for Sharif.
 


“My son, Sharif is French.”, said the bereaved father, Sir Reski Ibrahim, “ He was born here in France. We learn in this country : Fraternité, Liberté, Egalité. Brotherhood, freedom and equality. I hope for my son that he shall receive equal justice. In our prayers, let us pray that this does not happen again, to anyone. “
Click to enlarge image.Sir Leo Mojica, KCR and ABS-CBN correspondent for Balitang Europe, interviews the father of Sharif, Sir Reski Ibrahim, KOR, Paris Chapter.
 


Almost all wore the T-shirt bearing the image of Sharif and with the words ‘Justice for Sharif.’ The Directrice of the College and professor of Sharif remarked that “ He was a quiet boy, very gentle, very generous. How could this happen to him ? “ He was known and admired by many students, as their champion basketball player.
Click to enlarge image.
 
“How could this happen to him?”
 


Said one community leader, “ All the news talks about violence in the Philippines and how unsafe it is for tourists. If a 16 year old kid can get killed at a bus stop, is France any safer ? “

The silent prayer vigil was organised by the Knights of Rizal, Paris and Dimasalang ile de France Chapters, and the Comite General des Associations Philippines en France (grouping 37 associations).
Click to enlarge image.Knights of the Paris and Dimasalang ile de France chapters, organisers of the rally, with the Philippine community associations.
 

Click to enlarge image.Sir Jess Umali, KCR Commander of the Paris Chapter with Ladies of the Damas de Rizal.
 


For the Knights of Rizal, this was also the occasion to give tribute to the Peace and Unity Summit Agreement of May 27, 2005 which ended several years of internal tensions and conflicts. The reconciliation of the Paris and Dimasalang chapters, and the anticipated renewal of the Cote d’Azur chapter all bear witness to the new solidarity among the Knights and the community in general.
 
 
 
 

Justice for Sharif Photo Album
Credits: Jacob Tundagui and Michael Barles.

 Prayer Rally 001 - (Credits: Jacob Tundagui and Michael Barles)
Prayer Rally 002 - (Credits: Jacob Tundagui and Michael Barles)
Prayer Rally 003 - (Credits: Jacob Tundagui and Michael Barles)
Prayer Rally 004 - (Credits: Jacob Tundagui and Michael Barles)
Prayer Rally 005 - (Credits: Jacob Tundagui and Michael Barles)
Prayer Rally 006 - (Credits: Jacob Tundagui and Michael Barles)
Prayer Rally 007 - (Credits: Jacob Tundagui and Michael Barles)
Prayer Rally 008 - (Credits: Jacob Tundagui and Michael Barles)
Prayer Rally 009 - (Credits: Jacob Tundagui and Michael Barles)
Prayer Rally 010 - (Credits: Jacob Tundagui and Michael Barles)
Prayer Rally 011 - (Credits: Jacob Tundagui and Michael Barles)
Prayer Rally 012 - (Credits: Jacob Tundagui and Michael Barles)
Prayer Rally 013 - (Credits: Jacob Tundagui and Michael Barles)
Prayer Rally 014 - (Credits: Jacob Tundagui and Michael Barles)
Prayer Rally 015 - (Credits: Jacob Tundagui and Michael Barles)
Prayer Rally 016 - (Credits: Jacob Tundagui and Michael Barles)
Prayer Rally 017 - (Credits: Jacob Tundagui and Michael Barles)
Prayer Rally 018 - (Credits: Jacob Tundagui and Michael Barles)
Prayer Rally 019 - (Credits: Jacob Tundagui and Michael Barles)
Prayer Rally 020 - (Credits: Jacob Tundagui and Michael Barles)
Prayer Rally 021 - (Credits: Jacob Tundagui and Michael Barles)
Prayer Rally 022 - (Credits: Jacob Tundagui and Michael Barles)
Prayer Rally 023 - (Credits: Jacob Tundagui and Michael Barles)
Prayer Rally 024 - (Credits: Jacob Tundagui and Michael Barles)
Prayer Rally 025 - (Credits: Jacob Tundagui and Michael Barles)
Prayer Rally 026 - (Credits: Jacob Tundagui and Michael Barles)
Prayer Rally 027 - (Credits: Jacob Tundagui and Michael Barles)
 
Earlier Comments First

Choy Arnaldo
Thu 4th February 2010
Paris
 

Pascale

Je te remercie beaucoup pour ce témoignage précieux d'une des prooches de Sharif. J'espère que ce page peut rester toujours un bouquet à son honneur et à son mémoire.
Ses autres amis sont les bienvenues pour ajouter leurs pensées.

Choy

 
drouaillet
04022010
trappes
 

je viens de voir l article que je n avait pas encore vu
sharif nous manque tellement
dans son club de baskette ou il était aimée bon joueur toujour poli un exemple
on toublira jamais tu restera toujour dans notre coeur
et on sera toujour present pour sa famille des gens gentis
moi il font partis de ma famille
toute mes amitiés
pascale

 
carmen navarro Pedrosa
Wed 24th June 2009
manila philippines
 

Dear Choy,

I read this article by chance. I'd like to know more about it. Brings me back to our advocacy days in Paris. I still write a column in Philippine Star twice weekly but i have begun another community newspaper called BOSES and it is mailed to 42, 000 barangays. Maybe it would good to touch base again. Write me back when you can so I know where I can get in touch with you.

Best. Chitang

 
Choy Arnaldo
Thu 28th May 2009
Paris, France
 

Gil,

Very glad to hear from you after all these years!

Your remarks are right on, though most of the police side of the story was already in some French newspapers and TV. In this article, I was more interested in showing the support of the Philippine community for one of ours who was brutally attacked and died. Sharif Ibrahim, 16 student of the college of Trappes was confronted at the bus stop of Trappes on 5 May, by five students from a neighboring town, Plaisir. Three of them had icepicks and began stabbing. The five were detained by the police, the two without icepicks were released. Sharif was taken in coma to the Georges Pompidou Hospital where he died on 13 May diagnosed only as heart failure.

A judicial autopsy was demanded by the police, which was done within 2 days, but the results have not yet been released by the hospital authorities who must also analyse and provide the full cause of death. Meanwhile the body is under judicial detention in the morgue until the autopsy analysis is released. More anguish for the family.

The family wish to repatriate the body and hold full rites at home in the Philippines. The Mayor of Trappes has graciously offered to pay the costs of repatriation and the tickets of Mr and Mrs Reskie Ibrahim, the parents--a gesture deeply appreciated. As for Reskie, he has sought no vengeance, only justice for his son, also the theme of the rally. We pray this will never happen again to any of us.

The whole story, and it is still ongoing, is being covered by ABS-CBN Balitang Europe.

Choy

 
gil santos
Wed 27th May 2009
makati city in metro manila, philippines
 

May 28, 2009
This story by Choy Arnoldo does not say what is the Paris police's findings on the stabbing, who did it and why. There is a big gap in the story that needs to be filled with the facts. The pictures are alright but they do not tell the story. What is the progress of the police investigations up to now, and what was the final statement of the hospital. I presume he died? Thanks. Gil Santos