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Grenfell Tower fire inquiry: tributes continue on day six – live Grenfell Tower fire inquiry: tributes continue on day six – live
(35 minutes later)
Mohammad’s mother, Heam, is seen recalling the moment when she found out about her son’s death. Mohammad’s father says that he wants to speak about the tower from a safety perspective.
Nadal, who was a civil engineer in Kuwait, says that in Britain “the safety was not there.” It was also wrong that people were told to remain in their flats as the fire was taking hold.
He concludes by reading out a letter to his son in which he describes how, at the end of the day, it was god’s will that his son had been created. He was thankful that one of his other sons, Amer, had been able to escape from the tower.
Mohammad’s father, Nadal, speaks through an interpreter, to pay tribute to his son.
He starts off by listing his children and the names which he gave them. Mohammad embodied every trait of the prophet, who he was named after, he says.
When Mohammad was young his generosity was exemplified by how he would give his siblings all the sweets he could afford with his pocket money. This was a way of behaving that would continue throughout his life.
When he came to London, Mohammad learned to cook and would insist on hosting people, including elder people. This trait being hospitable was widely admired.
Nadal says that he will remember his son as a man with a big personality, as someone who could have been the leader of a a tribe.
Mohammad’s fiancee, Amal, tells the inquiry that he loved London, particularly because he felt safe there, but there were times “when his heart was in pieces”.
“He taught me to love myself. He made me feel like I could do things and accomplish things in my life,” she recalls.
“I miss that a lot but it still keeps me going,” she says in the video.
The couple had a lot of plans for their future and were waiting to make things official.
“I felt respected by him and I felt like our relationship was very pure. The last time we spoke was on the 13th of June. the night before the fire. We were on the same bus and I got off before him and he carried on.”
After he got home he messaged her to ask if she was ok and if she was sleeping. It was the last she heard of him.
“Right now when I imagine my future I don’t really see anything,” she says.
Mohammad’s mother, Heam, is talking about the moment when she found out about her son’s death.
“It was a huge shock to me. But his smile never leaves me,” she recalls.“It was a huge shock to me. But his smile never leaves me,” she recalls.
“He was very mature for his age [23]. You felt that he was distinguished in every way.”“He was very mature for his age [23]. You felt that he was distinguished in every way.”
The commemorations have now moved on to Mohammad Alhajali, whose brother Hashim is now speaking at the same time as a video tribute.The commemorations have now moved on to Mohammad Alhajali, whose brother Hashim is now speaking at the same time as a video tribute.
It is extremely hard to speak about Mohammad so the family have made a series of video tributes to him, he says.It is extremely hard to speak about Mohammad so the family have made a series of video tributes to him, he says.
The brothers grew up in Daraa in the south of Syria, says one of Mohammad’s other brothers in the first part of the video.The brothers grew up in Daraa in the south of Syria, says one of Mohammad’s other brothers in the first part of the video.
“He had lots of friends and was a very welcoming person. When I went to his university he would introduce everyone to me because everyone loved him. He loved so much to talk and meet with people.”“He had lots of friends and was a very welcoming person. When I went to his university he would introduce everyone to me because everyone loved him. He loved so much to talk and meet with people.”
Hamid Kani came to London in the 1970s to study and came to love his adopted city, according to his cousin.Hamid Kani came to London in the 1970s to study and came to love his adopted city, according to his cousin.
In the early 1980s he had roles in criticial comedy plays which were satirical of the regime in Tehran. Videos of these became very popular and as a result he was blacklisted by the regime and as a result could not return to his Iran for some time. In the early 1980s he had roles in criticial comedy plays which were satirical of the regime in Tehran. Videos of these became very popular and as a result he was blacklisted by the regime and could not return to his Iran for some time.
Following this, he took up work in London as a cook and was particularly distraught when his father in Tehran died.Following this, he took up work in London as a cook and was particularly distraught when his father in Tehran died.
However, he was able to return and looked forward to an annual trip. He was due to take one in 2017 but was never able to do it.However, he was able to return and looked forward to an annual trip. He was due to take one in 2017 but was never able to do it.
All of Hamid’s family live in Iran and one of the most difficult things was to explain what had happened to him, says his cousin, Masoud.All of Hamid’s family live in Iran and one of the most difficult things was to explain what had happened to him, says his cousin, Masoud.
“Hamid loved to live and lived to love. He would have been especially proud that there was an outpouring of togetherness among the religions and communities.”“Hamid loved to live and lived to love. He would have been especially proud that there was an outpouring of togetherness among the religions and communities.”
The tributes concludes.The tributes concludes.
Hamid Kani, a 61-year-old Iranian man who lived on the 15 th floor of the tower, is now being commemorated at the inquiry. Hamid Kani, a 61-year-old Iranian man who lived on the 15th floor of the tower, is now being commemorated at the inquiry.
His cousin, Masoud, is talking about Hamid, who was born and brought up in Tehran, the youngest of the family and the son of a shopkeeper in the city.His cousin, Masoud, is talking about Hamid, who was born and brought up in Tehran, the youngest of the family and the son of a shopkeeper in the city.
“He was always so sociable, extrovert and very very funny,” says Masoud.“He was always so sociable, extrovert and very very funny,” says Masoud.
The inquiry is now listening to a tribute to Sakineh Afrasiabi from her daughter, Sheila.The inquiry is now listening to a tribute to Sakineh Afrasiabi from her daughter, Sheila.
Sheila was too overwhelmed to come so her words are being read out by her solicitor, Eva Whittle.Sheila was too overwhelmed to come so her words are being read out by her solicitor, Eva Whittle.
Sheila said that she had now lost her only friend and protector, someone who was her only shield from the world.Sheila said that she had now lost her only friend and protector, someone who was her only shield from the world.
“I always had somewhere else to go. Now I am always lonely. In the first few days after the fire I would just walk around the tower and wail and cry,” he recalled.“I always had somewhere else to go. Now I am always lonely. In the first few days after the fire I would just walk around the tower and wail and cry,” he recalled.
All that she was left of her mother was a tooth and a jawbone, which was buried. Sheila said that she had lost the only person who truly loved her and she was now very very lonely.All that she was left of her mother was a tooth and a jawbone, which was buried. Sheila said that she had lost the only person who truly loved her and she was now very very lonely.
She missed her mother and aunt, with whom her mother had died, and would always love them unconditionally.She missed her mother and aunt, with whom her mother had died, and would always love them unconditionally.
The tributes to Biruk and Berkti are concluding with a call by their relatives for justice.The tributes to Biruk and Berkti are concluding with a call by their relatives for justice.
“Please. These things we hope will never happen again. Thank you,” says one of Berkti’s sisters, to applause from those assembled for the inquiry.“Please. These things we hope will never happen again. Thank you,” says one of Berkti’s sisters, to applause from those assembled for the inquiry.
A video tribute is now showing Biruk’s seven year old cousin, Hemem, who is recalling him in a video tribute A video tribute is now showing Biruk’s seven-year-old cousin, Hemem, who is recalling him in a video tribute
He was a lovely boy who would look after her, she remembers.He was a lovely boy who would look after her, she remembers.
“I was very happy but my happiness has gone because of the tragedy of Grenfell Tower. I miss him so much I still don’t know what to do without him.”“I was very happy but my happiness has gone because of the tragedy of Grenfell Tower. I miss him so much I still don’t know what to do without him.”
She told of how her Aunti Berkti looked after her while her mother went away each year to look after her grandmother.She told of how her Aunti Berkti looked after her while her mother went away each year to look after her grandmother.
Another cousin, Simon, tells of how Biruk taught him how to play Playstation and of the fun they had when they rode their bikes and just enjoyed “silly fun.” Another cousin, Simon, tells of how Biruk taught him how to play PlayStation and of the fun they had when they rode their bikes and just enjoyed “silly fun”.
Simon recalls the time, as a little boy, when he was lost in Westfield Shopping centre and his Auntie Berkti “cried her heart” out for him and looked everywhere to make sure he was found. Simon recalls the time, as a little boy, when he was lost in Westfield shopping centre and his Auntie Berkti cried her heart out for him and looked everywhere to make sure he was found.
He added that he knew the family would be reunited some day in a better place.He added that he knew the family would be reunited some day in a better place.
A moment of happiness for the family was recalled in the form of a birthday party which Berkti had held for Biruk in the weeks before the fire.
“Biruk was beaming and he got so many presents. It is a cherished memory for our family. Biruk told us when he grew up that he wanted to be a pilot or a scientist or a footballer. We have no doubt ... that he would have been able to full his ambition.”
The fire would still not take away the family’s deep love for both Biruk and Berkti, the statement concludes.
Biruk was recalled as a happy little boy who would seldom if ever cry or scream, the statement recalls.
As he grew up, he dreamed of being a striker like his hero, Chelsea’s Eden Hazard, and would play football under the West Way near Grenfell.
“He was kind and he was sensitive. We all as sisters remember collecting him from his nursery and when we would arrive he would call us mummy even though we knew we were his aunts.”
He was a little boy who was wise beyond his years, the statement adds, recalling how he had prayed for one of his aunts when she was ill and how he had worried about his brother in Ethiopia.
Berkti had started to arrange the immigration papers so that her son in Ethiopia could come to the UK, but the fire had taken away that possibiliy.
Biruk was a smiling and happy little boy while Berkti had a strong work ethic willing to do any labour, the family statement says.
She worked as a caterer, cleaner and in coffee shops and wanted her son to have everything that she could not have when she was growing up in Eritrea. She was so happy when she found a catering position at Kings College Hospital and was proud to be working in the NHS as she was such a caring person.
“Everything she did was for her sons,” the statement adds.
“Our sister always put her family first. Both of her sons were the apple of her eye and she was proud.”
Berkti was 10 weeks pregnant when she died in fire, the inquiry is being told in a statement read out on behalf of the family.
They have no doubt that she was cradling her son as the fire and smoke closed in and it was of some small consolation that he would have been looking at her face as they left this world.
Berkti was born in Eritrea as one of 11 children. The early ears in Eritrea and in Ethiopia as the family moved between both countries in search of safety at a time of war.
As a result of the war and the family having to move, Berkti never really had the opportunities in education that children have now. What she lost was made up by the abundance of love around her.
She learned swiftly to become a mother after the birth of her first son and loved him with all her heart and soul. As conditions in the Horn of Africa deteriorated the family started to disperse across the world. She was a young woman and to flee with her son would have been too difficult.
She made the heartbreaking decision to leave her two year old son with her own mother as she was at risk of the violations against young women of her age at that time.
The family add that they would like to thank the UK for providing safety and shelter to the family, resulting in Berkti and her sisters being reunited again there.
When she first came she initially settled in Kilburn, later moving to Wood Green, and lived there with her newborn son Biruk. She was so happy eventually to have a home of their own in the Grenfell Tower. It was a place that was filled with the love and laughter of a baby boy.
One of Berkti’s sons is now speaking about his mother, with whom he said that he would communicate only by phone when he was living in Ertirea.
“She had such a nice voice,” he says, through tears.
When his grandmother died in 2016 his mother was very worried about him because he could not cope on his own. She promised that he would soon be with her.
“When I remember her promise, her voice, you can’t even imagine how I feel. I was looking forward towards living with my mum and little brother but the fire changed everything.
“I thought that I was dreaming when I was told that my mum died in a fire and my brother died in fire, but it was real. To lose someone in this kind of way is the worst possible thing imaginable.”
“I did not even have a chance to say good bye. What makes me feel hopeless is that I will never see my mum again.”
The family are learning to appreciate the small things that they normally ignore in their every day life and be grateful, adds Berkti’s sister.
Maybe this is what they have learned after the deaths in Grenfell Tower, she adds, as images of Berkti and Biruk are projected on the inquiry’s screens.
“Let us hope that what happened will not happen to anyone again.”
We are now listening to tributes to Berkti Haftom, 29, and Biruk Haftom, 12, a mother and son who lived on one of the upper floors of the tower.
One of Berkti’s sisters, reading from a statement, says that her sister fled Eritrea in search of safety, only to die in Grenfell.
“It’s like being shot again and again and again,” she says of the family’s pain.
Proceedings at the Grenfell inquiry are about to get underway again after a break. In the meantime, you can read the full story filed earlier by my colleague Owen Bowcott.
The brother of a Grenfell Tower victim kept a phone line open to his sister and mother until the moment they suffocated, trapped by flames and smoke on the top floors of the building.
On the sixth day of commemoration hearings, Ahmed Elgwahry told the inquiry how he remained in touch with his 27-year-old sister, Mariem, and his mother Eslah as the fire engulfed the high-rise flats.
With his voice occasionally overcome by emotion, Ahmed recalled how he had spent the earlier part of the evening with Mariem, a marketing manager, before she returned to her home in Grenfell where she cared for their mother, whose health was declining.
Her friends remembered Mariem as always happy like “a ray of sunshine”, he said. “She was a beautiful, ambitious and talented woman. She wanted to succeed in her marketing career and she had fallen in love.”
The inquiry is now taking a break until 2.15.