Peter Nena
Listen to this wonderful BBC story about a woman whose son was killed by an extremist, but instead of harbouring bitterness and anger and vengeance in her heart, she chose to reach out to other young men like the murderer of her son and help them turn away from radicalisation.
Latifa Ibn Ziaten, a Moroccan mother to five has been awarded the highest honour in France, the Legion of Honour, and has been nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize. Latifa’s son, a French soldier, was murdered in Toulouse in 2012. Since then, Latifa has reached out to her ‘enemy’, working closely with people at risk of radicalisation in prisons and schools, and has convinced at least three young men not to go and fight in Syria.
Latifa Ibn Ziaten. BBC photo.
This is the 37th celebration of the WE ARE THE WORLD BLOGFEST #WATWB which is carried out every last Friday of the month, and which aims to spread love and positiveness in this vulnerable world. A celebration of heroes who can still restore our faith in humanity, especially in this period when our world seems to be full of endless series of horrible happenings.
Our generous co-hosts for this month are: Eric Lahti, Susan Scott, Inderpreet Kaur Uppal, Shilpa Garg and myself.
To sign up for We Are The World Blogfest, please see the guidelines below.
~~~GUIDELINES~~~
- Keep your post to below 500 words, as much as possible.
- All we ask is you link to a human news story on your blog on the last Friday of each month, one that shows love, humanity, and brotherhood. Something like this news about a man who only fosters terminally ill children.
- Join us on the last Friday of each month in sharing news that warms the cockles of our heart. No story is too big or small, as long as it goes beyond religion and politics, into the core of humanity.
- Place the WE ARE THE WORLD Badge on your sidebar, and help us spread the word on social media. Tweets, Facebook shares, G+ shares using the #WATWB hashtag through the month most welcome. More Blogfest signups mean more friends, love and light for all of us.
- We’ll read and comment on each others’ posts, get to know each other better, and hopefully, make or renew some friendships with everyone who signs on as participants in the coming months.
- To signup, add your link in WE ARE THE WORLD Linky List
Demogorgon's Fiction 
Thanks Peter – to work with the enemy is in itself a radical act in the best sense. I hope Latifa Ibn Ziaten’s nomination goes further forward and that she actually does receive the Nobel Peace Prize. Thank you for co-hosting this month and have a lovely weekend.
Thank you Susan.
Thanks for sharing this amazing story, how rare is this mother, Latifa Ibn Ziaten, how well she understands the havoc that hatred brings. What a wonderful example for us all of a true spiritual beacon. I hope she wins the Nobel Peace prize; she certainly deserves it.
I have always admired people like Latifa, who can forgive in their grief and sorrow and use that forgiveness in a positive light to help others. Thanks for sharing this Peter. What a great story!
Thank you Lizbeth.
Thank you Mary. Forgiveness is hard. I struggle with it myself.
Thank you for such a positive story. Stay well.
I hope you are well, too, Cheryl. Thank you.
There are good people in the world, and there are better people. Thanks for bringing us a story of one of the better ones, Peter.
Thank you, too, Dan. This world is increasingly traumatising. People like Latifa make it a little more hopeful everyday.
Thank you for sharing the positivity!
Thank you Damyanti.
How cool. I always like to see people trying to make peace rather than finding reasons to start fights.
Thank you Eric.
Peter, this is another wonderful story. I have been a bit sporadic but I was so pleased to sign on and see a post by you. “Love thine enemy and do good to those who would harm you.” And still only a few get it. God bless Latifa. I hope you are well!!
Thank you Cybele. Long time, my dear friend! I hope you are well and keeping yourself safe.
I am, thought people have been suffering through some bad forest fires in this area!! I hope you are too!
Inspiring story! Thanks you for sharing.
Forgiveness frees the forgiver more than anything. Wishing you a wonderful year-end, Peter.