On December 15, 2016, Soleiman Faqiri tragically died after being fatally restrained during a severe schizophrenic episode while in an Ontario jail, where he was shackled on the floor, awaiting a much-needed mental health assessment that never came.
The family of Soleiman Faqiri express their profound sadness and disappointment in the Ontario Provincial Police’s decision not to lay criminal charges against any of the guards in relation to the beating and death of Soleiman (Soli) in December 2016.
Families across Ontario are torn apart by the Justice system that punitively harms those in their care, especially individuals who have underlying mental health issues.
Events in seven Canadian cities will remember man killed under government care, continue call for justice
The Jail Killing of Soleiman Faqiri Documentary Screening and Panel Discussion is taking place on Monday, April 8, from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm at Carleton University, MacOdrum Library Discovery Centre, Room 482, in Ottawa, Ontario.
On December 15, 2016, Afghan Canadian Soleiman Faqiri was killed during an altercation with prison guards at the Central East Correctional Centre in Lindsay, Ontario.
Soleiman Faqiri’s stay at the Central East Corrections Centre (CECC) was meant to be a temporary measure, yet it ended up being fatal.
The family of Soleiman Faqiri have launched a petition address to Premier Doug Ford and Michael Tibbolo, Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services seeking justice after Soleiman was beaten to death by staff at the Central East Correctional Centre (CECC) in Lindsay, Ontario. Soleiman was in custody after he was charged with assault, these charges were later dropped.
Yusuf Faqiri has been speaking out as part of the Justice for Soli Campaign over the last year trying to get answers about this brother's death and demanding accounablity on the part of those responsible for it.
On December 15th 2017, friends and supporters held a vigil at Dundas Square to mark the one year anniversary of Soleiman Faqiri’s death. This vigil was organized to honour and commemorate Soleiman and call for justice, transparency, accountability and most of all reform in Ontario’s correctional services.
The following is a statement from the Justice for Soli coalition after learning that the Kawartha Lakes Police Service will not be pressing charges against those responsible for the death of Soleiman Faqiri.
Readers should know that this is the second time that a Muslim coping with schizophrenia has died after spending time in the Lindsay Detention Centre. The first was Somali refugee Abdurahman Ibrahim Hassan, who died in a Peterborough Hospital. Hassan was under indefinite immigrantion detention at Lindsay. Fellow immigration detention inmates went on hunger strike to demand an inquest into his death.