The inspiring story of Mohamed Chelali’s actions in 2002 may have been forgotten by many Times readers, but it’s worth dusting off the files from 2002 and 2003 to see how the actions of one brave man prevented a major international crisis in, of all places, Paris.
Chelali was a teacher at Mountain Secondary at that time. He was vacationing with his family and a neighbour’s daughter in July, 2002.
He is originally Algerian and of Muslim origin. He lived in France for many years (as do many former Algerians), and his family suffered greatly during the Algerian war of independence. He moved to Canada after living in France.
He and his family were at the Bastille Day parade in Paris on July 14, 2002 — a day in which France commemorates the French Revolution. He was standing and waiting for French president Jacques Chirac to pass by in the parade when he noticed a man taking a rifle from a guitar case and beginning to put it together. The intended target was Chirac.
The would-be assassin was part of a neo-Nazi group. Chelali, along with others in the crowd, wrestled with the man and prevented him from putting the rifle together. The man was soon arrested.
At the time, Chelali said he was simply doing what most other citizens would do, but he was far too modest, as many people would flee in similar circumstances.
Chirac and the French government were far more impressed. Chelali met with Chirac several months later, and in late 2003, he was named a knight in the French Legion d’Honneur, an award originally established by Napoleon in 1802.
The presentation of the award took place at the French consulate in Vancouver, and I was privileged to be able to attend on behalf of The Times.
French Ambassador Philippe Guelley travelled from Ottawa to present the award to Chelali, and said at the time “you cannot write a better script. This man takes it naturally. The president was very happy that such a man was responsible for saving his life.”
Chelali, as a teacher, knew that the award presentation was a teachable moment. He used the occasion to say the following, and it is worth repeating in the light of the events of last week in Paris, and the reaction from some quarters.
“This award, given in the presence of my wife Nora, my two children and the little Jewish girl who was travelling with us, is symbolic. It shows the path of peace to the Middle East. I am Algerian and Muslim, and today I have participated in creating a link between peace and tolerance.”
At the time he received the award, he was teaching at Aldergrove Community Secondary. He has since gone on to work for the B.C. Teachers Federation, and to continue to promote the idea that education and acceptance of others is a way forward — not a backwards step, as some people seem to believe.
I was inspired by Chelali’s actions in 2002 and by his reaction to the attention he received. He was a worthy representative of his religion, his background, his profession and this community. His words are worth contemplating.