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Gariwo

An intense wait that lasted for two years...

by Hamadi Ben Abdesslem

Hamadi ben Abdelsslem with the tourists he rescued, at the Garden of the Righteous of Milan

Hamadi ben Abdelsslem with the tourists he rescued, at the Garden of the Righteous of Milan

I don’t know how to begin and quite frankly I can’t find my words to describe what I am living today, a day that I have been waiting for two years. It was a strong desire for a meeting, or I should say a reunion. The emotion is strong after what we lived together.

At the Museum of the Bardo we have escaped death. It is a moment that has deeply impacted my life, and I believe also of who, as their guide, I have managed to rescue. I still think to when we went to the port after the attacks. A moment that I can not forget… tears, kisses, hugs, melancholy and the joy of being alive. Happy to come back home after an experience full of terror and fear, we left each other without understanding. For these reasons I am deeply moved to the idea of seeing them again, in this meeting possible thanks to Gariwo.

To say thank is not enough. A hundred, a thousand times thank you to Gariwo for having organized this day, for allowing me to see some friends that came in Tunisia and that have unfortunately lived a nightmare. Today they are here with me, and my message to them – alongside with Gariwo – is that I will continue our fight against terrorism, for our right to live, to teach to love and not hate, and to allow a return in Tunisia, or any other place on this planet, without the fear of terrorism.

We have a lot of work ahead, and each one can do something by following the path of Gariwo…

I would like to hug everyone.

I love you, and this is a moment that will brings us together.

Hamadi ben Abdesslem

Analysis by

14 March 2017

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