On the day that marks a decade since the attacks that left 130 dead, survivors and their families live with the physical and psychological trauma of a nightmare, which became part of the body and soul of those who were left behind.
This Thursday (13), remembers the ten years of the worst terrorist attacks in its history. A series of tributes is scheduled to honor the memory of the 130 fatal victims and hundreds of injured victims of attacks coordinated by the jihadist group Islamic State. Ceremonies will take place at the sites of the attacks, including the Bataclan music venue, restaurants, bars and the nearby Stade de France, where a memorial garden will be opened.
On the night of November 13, 2015, terror spread across the French capital in a series of shootings and suicide explosions. The deadliest attack took place at the Bataclan, where 90 people were murdered during a rock concert. A decade later, the scars of that night remain visible in the survivors and family members who lost their loved ones.
Life after trauma
“It’s been ten years, it’s part of me,” says Eva, a 35-year-old survivor who lost part of her leg after being shot multiple times on the terrace of a restaurant. His story, marked by a “huge scar” on his arm and the adaptation to a prosthetic, reflects the journey of many. Although she says she is “very well”, she admits: “life is not easy every day”.
Fear and painful memories still haunt many. Bilal Mokono, who was left in a wheelchair after being injured near the Stade de France, says that since then he “sleeps badly” and that fear “persecutes” him. For Sophie Dias, who lost her father, Manuel Dias, in the same place, the date reinforces the importance of not letting the memory of her “only father” fade.
However, there are also those who want to move on. Fabien Petit, whose brother-in-law was killed in the Bonne Bière café, expresses the feeling that one cannot “keep reliving November 13th over and over again”. For him, the trial of the accused, concluded in 2022 with the sentencing of the only surviving terrorist, Salah Abdeslam, to life in prison, helped in the overcoming process.
The psychological wounds, however, proved fatal for some. Chemist Guillaume Valette and comic book author Fred Dewilde, both survivors, took their own lives years after the attacks. Their names were added to commemorative plaques, symbolically raising the number of victims. His parents fought for their son to be recognized as the 131st victim.
Psychiatrist Thierry Baubet warns that there are still victims suffering in silence, often for “fear of not being understood”. He points out, however, that resources for trauma treatment have improved in France since 2015 and that “it is never too late” to seek help.
Justice and memory
Recently, a new chapter opened in the case with Salah Abdeslam’s request to participate in a “restorative justice” process. His lawyer, Olivia Ronen, said he wants to “open a door to the civil parties” to explain the situation and talk about his detention and the trial. The initiative, which does not replace criminal justice, was received with interest by some victims’ associations, who see the possibility of meetings in prison with the convicted person.
At the same time, the terrorist threat in France remains a concern. National counter-terrorism watchdog Olivier Christen warned that the jihadist threat has been “growing steadily over the last three years”.
This week, the Eiffel Tower is lit up in the colors of the French flag in honor of the victims. Big screens will be installed in Praça da República so that the public can follow the official ceremony. The president will participate in the tributes at the different locations of the attacks.
For historian Denis Peschanski, over time, collective memory tends to focus on the Bataclan, forgetting other places. That’s why Roman, survivor of the attack on La Belle Équipe restaurant, decided to become a history and geography teacher. “Teaching (…) was important, not only to prevent this from happening again, but also to transmit to young people what happened to us”, he states.
Ten years later, the pain of loss remains indelible for many, like journalist Eric Ouzounian, who lost his 17-year-old daughter, Lola, at the Bataclan. “You don’t recover from the loss of a child.” His refusal to participate in the tributes in 2015 and his criticism of state policies that, according to him, created “zones of despair”, still inflame a debate in French society about the roots of extremism.
*With information from AFP
