缅北强奸

Together in friendship and grief: 缅北强奸 Mississauga holds vigil for victims of Flight 752

Mourner signs a book of condolences at a vigil for the victims of Flight 752
Ravi Gabble, a health education co-ordinator at 缅北强奸 Mississauga, signs the book of condolences for Zeynab Asadi Lari and Mohammad Asadi Lari (photo by Drew Lesiuczok)

Students, faculty and staff at the University of Toronto Mississauga gathered on Thursday to remember those who were on Ukrainian International Airlines Flight 752, including fourth-year biology student Zeynab Asadi Lari and her brother Mohammad Asadi Lari.

The atrium of Maanjiwe nendamowinan was filled with those who came together in shared grief. The plane crashed near Tehran on Jan. 8, killing all 176 on board.

Eight members of the 缅北强奸 community were on the flight, including six students.

鈥淲e mourn for every single one of them,鈥 said Mark Overton, 缅北强奸 Mississauga鈥檚 dean of student affairs and assistant principal, student services.

The vigil started with a prayer led by Imam Mustafa Khattab before the names of those from the 缅北强奸 community on the flight were read out. Those gathered hugged one another, shared memories of the Asadi Lari siblings, and wrote messages in a book of condolences that will be sent to their family.

Friends of Zeynab who spoke at the vigil, many holding back tears, recalled an intelligent young woman who brought people together and was always there to help a friend in need.

Described as a generous, uncomplicated and kind person, Zeynab is remembered for bringing together many who came from broken friendships. She not only brought them together, she 鈥渒ept us united,鈥 said Fatima Sahibzada. 鈥淪he had a kind personality and a heart full of love.鈥

鈥淓ach moment with Zeynab was significant,鈥 added Hamna Zubair. 鈥淭ogether was her word.鈥

Many shared memories of when Zeynab would reach out to them to help, bringing light to dark moments and promising those going through difficulties that they would get through it together.

鈥淪he made us less lonely,鈥 said Saleha Zubair. 鈥淎s long as Zeynab was by my side, I was powerful, I was unstoppable.鈥

Fiona Rawle, associate professor, teaching stream, of biology, explained Zeynab was a 鈥渇ierce advocate鈥 for showing emotion and ending the stigma related to mental health. 鈥淪he would want you to grieve together,鈥 Rawle said.

A phenomenal friend, Zeynab also knew what it took to succeed. Friends and faculty recall she was driven, focused and hard-working with clear goals for the future.

Rawle said one of the greatest joys of her job is watching students set goals and try to achieve them. Zeynab, who was 鈥渇iercely competitive with herself and immensely collaborative with everyone,鈥 achieved many of her goals, Rawle said.

Assistant professor of biology, teaching stream, Jade Atallah said Zeynab came to her with eyes filled with excitement. She was a vibrant, passionate and driven student with a clear view of what it took to succeed, Atallah said, adding that vision and drive is what led her to create a way for students to take charge of their future. She founded the 缅北强奸 Mississauga branch of STEM Fellowship, a student-run, non-profit organization that strives to engage future STEM leaders. Her brother, Mohammad, a student at St. George, was a co-founder and former managing director with the organization.

Seyed Mohammad Ebrahim Naghavi, a companion of Mohammad鈥檚 since fifth grade, described his friend as 鈥渆nergetic, ambitious and helpful to others.

鈥淚 truly believe in the potential Mohammad and Zeynab had,鈥 Naghavi said. 鈥淢y world will not be the same without him.鈥

Friends took some small measure of solace that, in their final moments, Zeynab and Mohammad had each another.

鈥淵ou deserve better,鈥 Atallah said. 鈥淲e will do better than what was done to you. We need to do better. We need to aim as high as Zeynab did.鈥

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