Aicha el-Wafi + Phyllis Rodriguez
Mothers Against Violence | From Tragedy to Reconciliation
About
Aicha el-Wafi and Phyllis Rodriguez forged an unlikely bond after their sons were killed on 9/11. Aicha's son Abdelkader joined al-Qaeda and died in the attacks, while Phyllis lost her son Greg, a victim in the World Trade Center.
Despite their unimaginable grief, these two mothers found the courage to connect, eventually forming a deep friendship based on empathy, compassion, and a shared desire to end the cycle of violence. Their moving story of reconciliation has inspired audiences around the world, demonstrating the power of forgiveness to heal even the deepest wounds.
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The mothers who found forgiveness, friendship
Phyllis Rodriguez and Aicha el-Wafi have a powerful friendship born of unthinkable loss. Rodriguez' son was killed in the World Trade Center attacks on September 11, 2001; el-Wafi's son Zacarias Moussaoui was convicted of a role in those attacks and is serving a life sentence. In hoping to find peace, these two moms have come to understand and respect one another.
| Event | Year | Location |
|---|---|---|
| TED 2010 | 2010 | 🇺🇸Long Beach, United States |
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