Farris Barakat's SpeechĀ at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. (Deah Barakat's Brother)
Iāve seen people try to apologize for this act when trust me, as a Muslim, I know that one act cannot define a mass.
I thank you all for coming here, I literally canāt see the end of the crowd. My family thanks you for coming here.
Yesterday, we got news that maybe my brother, his wife and Yusorās sister, Razan, who was visiting, might be caught up in an incident here on campus. Our mom was comfortable with the idea, she said, "I feel good. I know nothing happened."
A little roller coaster ride later, we find ourselves in the same spot.
Any time someone comes to me, and itās been so many people, I tell them, "Alhamdulillah," which means, "Praise be to God." We say that in good and in bad, knowing that God is the most wise. Because I know I couldnāt make sense of it, I know many others couldnāt make sense of it either. So we depend on God the wise in this time. We say Alhamdulillah because I know when I imagine my brother now, with his bride, Yusor, and Razan, they are elated and happy in the highest levels of paradise. Weāre taught that life is a bridge. We donāt want to build on the bridge. We want to build when we get there. So my brother, his wife and Razan, lived a life when they were planning for the next life. They didnāt build for the bridge, they got to their destination. They are home. And you have no idea how much comfort that brings us.
Literally Iāve laughed at how amazing it is for my brother to first, get married before me and then become so passionate about dentistry and see him light up when he talks about his UNC buddies here. He always beat me, so he beat me home.
And Iām sure, the only thing that makes me cry, really, is when I see Yusorās friends. It just that to me doesnāt make sense. When I see them cry, I just canāt handle it. Them, us, Abu-Salha family, weāre all in the same boat. Weāre happy, we know life is short.
I plead that you live in their legacy, that you share the good that you know of them. And take the message my mom wanted to make public and do not fight fire with fire. If, and it was quite possible, that this was an act based off of evil and a scared ignorant man, do not let ignorance propagate in your life. Do not reply to ignorance with ignorance. Become an amazing, bright intellectual leader that I know this university can create.
The Facebook group I first created, I said maybe letās use "Our Three Angels." I thought that was overused and they technically are angels. They sure acted like it sometimes. But they are literally winners. Theyāve won, theyāve passed the challenge that is this life and literally I ask you to see the comforts in that.
Weāre going to cry because we miss them. I had an appointment with them today at 2 that I had to miss. I donāt know what Iām going to do on Saturday mornings, when itās time for family breakfast. And today Iāve reached for my phone so many times to text them. Like, "Yo man, NFL starts, Chris Rock. These guys are talking about ..." Oh.
I was so happy this message is out that these three individuals lived an amazing life. And I wanted to share that experience with my brother. And literally, this is kind of what hurts me the most right now, is that I just wish he were here to see it all.
At some point we are going to move on with dignity. Be the students I know UNC Chapel Hill and NC State Central and whoever else is here can make you be. And be citizens of this world, because weāve lost three great citizens of this world and of this country. But I think theyāve inspired thousands.
I thank you for your time and your support. And God bless you all. And if you see someone crying tell them Deah is happy, Yusor is happy, Razan is happy.