The journey of Yasmine, a Moroccan high school student with Down syndrome, has inspired a Television movie released on Monday by TF1. However, the Berraoui family was not part of the deal. The publisher of «Yasmine, 19 ans, bachelière» (Yasmine, a 19-year-old high school graduate), a book written by the father of the Moroccan student, is planning to sue the French TV channel. Yasmine Berraoui, a young woman with Down syndrome, managed to impress the world in 2014 by graduating high school with honors. She was decorated by King Mohammed VI on the Throne Day the same year. Her father, Jamal Berraoui, a journalist based in Casablanca, wrote a book (Balland, 2015), sharing his experience as a parent of child with Down syndrome and narrating the challenging journey of his daughter. «His account was moving, the distress he experienced alongside his partner Mina. However, little by little, and without the help of incompetent 'specialists' hope was reborn. Yasmine, to whom her parents did not speak of disability nor Down syndrome grew older and flourished with embracing her differences» wrote Medias 24 in 2015 when the book was released. Meanwhile, TF1, a private TV channel, was highly inspired by Yasmine's story when making a TV movie. Entitled «Mention particulier», directed by Christophe Campos and broadcasted on Monday, the film had made headlines, going viral on the internet and most precisely on Twitter. Ces films qui montrent que la vie est un combat. Que la différence est une force #MentionParticuliere — Naouelle (@OuzinebNaouelle) 6 novembre 2017 Bravo et merci à TF1. Que ce film mette une claque aux mauvaises âmes qui jugent quelqu'un sur sa différence. #MentionParticuliere — Laurent (@lolodlms) 6 novembre 2017 Je trouve ça important et touchant ce sujet. Que les gens arrêtent avec leurs stéréotypes et idées toutes faites. #MentionParticuliere — Manon A (@Laady_Mana) 6 novembre 2017 The movie director succeeded in «capturing this exceptional journey in an enthusiastic and humorous way, which has given hope to many parents of Down syndrome children», wrote La Croix newspaper. «They refused to give credit to the book and the story of my daughter» While media platforms were occupied complimenting the movie, Jamal Berraoui was saddened. «The publisher of my book is suing TF1 because they used yasmine's story in the making of their movie without mentioning it, violating its property rights», he told Yabiladi. «They refused to give credit to the book and the story of my daughter», insisted the father. According to Jamal Berraoui, TF1 mentioned that the story is «fictitious» to justify its decision. «They have took the story and made the events look like they were happening in France. The film rights have already been sold in five countries, including Belgium, Switzerland, Denmark and England». «It's a shame to steal a personal and family story», he concluded.
