France Surpasses 100,000 Covid-19 Deaths: Moroccan Immigrant Among Those Lost

At 77 years old, Mohammed Zarrouki, a man suffering from diabetes, had been infected with the coronavirus in Paris last year. His friends, his wife and several of his children were also infected. But the septuagenarian did not survive. Covid-19 takes him away in March 2020.

"He had an aura... Once we went to see him, we were happy. He had a reassuring, warm presence," Zahra, one of his six children, confides to France info. A discreet man and a lover of simple pleasures, he enjoyed long walks, did daily prayers and visited friends. He attached importance to his appearance. He was in the habit of trimming his beard with precision and choosing his shoes meticulously.

Mohammed Zarrouki left Morocco for France in the 1970s. A shepherd, he became a worker and worked at Renault after learning French on his own. He settled in Arras (Pas-de-Calais). His attachment to Morocco led him to go there regularly. During one of his many round trips, this native of Taliouine met Fatma, who would become his wife. Together, they had several children.

The MRE had been at the service of his community in the last years of his life. His project? The creation of a new mosque in Arras for which he had launched fundraising campaigns. After his death, his community organized a collection in tribute to a well-known figure. "Many people keep his smile in mind," assures his daughter Zahra.