Canada's Hidden Humanitarian Crisis

For World Humanitarian Day, CCMW is drawing attention to an urgent humanitarian crisis in Canada related to the flaws in our criminal justice system and the culture of cruelty that prevails within Canadian jails.

Find out more in our statement on the chief forensic pathologist’s report on Soleiman Faqiri's death which has drawn a direct connection between the brutality Soleiman endured from correctional guards and his death.

For the latest updates on the case follow justiceforsoli.com and @Justice4Soli

After almost five years, Ontario’s chief forensic pathologist has released a comprehensive post-mortem review in the death of Soleiman Faqiri. The report overturns Soleiman’s unascertained death status and concludes that the actions of correctional officers at the Central East Correctional Centre directly contributed to his death.

CCMW welcomes this new report as it leaves no doubt as to how Soleiman was killed. There is now no ambiguity whatsoever with regards to the cause of death and the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) can no longer continue to protect its officers using the “unascertained” findings in the previous post-mortem report as an excuse.

This is the painful truth we all knew from the start; yet it still hurts so much when confirmed. Our hearts are with Soleiman’s family and friends who have to relive Soleiman’s violent killing every time a new finding is revealed in the case. This new report has only been made possible due to their perseverance and relentless advocacy. We hope the findings offer them hope in the truth. We honour their strength and their tireless fight for justice and stand with them in strength and solidarity.

We also reaffirm our commitment to support the Faqiri Family in their fight for justice and call for full transparency and accountability in the case.

As a result of the new findings, the case has been returned to the Ontario Provincial Police for investigation. This will be the third time that Soleiman’s case has been reopened for investigation and they have to get it right this time. With these new findings we need to see the correctional guards that were involved in the death of Soleiman face criminal charges and be held accountable for their actions. There needs to be transparency in the investigation and the findings. These guards can not get away with murder and the OPP has to prove that the system does not protect correctional officers when they break the law. Until then, we have no confidence in the OPP to do what is right.

Soleiman was killed under the care of the Ontario Government and they owe his family an explanation. Before the chief forensic pathologist took over the case, no government institution had shown any interest in finding out what really happened to Soleiman. The protracted delay in the findings, the lackadaisical nature of the investigation and the insouciance of the authorities represent a failure of the entire system. The Ontario Premier must make an official apology to the Faqiri Family for Soleiman’s death and offer them an explanation for the agonizing wait they have had to endure for justice.

Soleiman’s case has also exposed the various flaws in our criminal justice system and it is another grim reminder of the culture of cruelty that prevails within Canadian jails.

The chief forensic pathologist’s report has drawn a direct connection between the brutality Soleiman endured from the guards and his death. There is absolutely no justification for what was done to him and no training that authorizes the extreme level of violence he was subjected to by correctional officers. The mental state of people charged with crime must be taken into account and vulnerable persons should be properly placed to exercise the duty of care owed to all in custody. CCMW calls for systemic changes and urgent action on how mental health crises are handled within the criminal justice system. Institutional changes must be made to implement mental health training in the prison system in order to protect the vulnerable and ensure that people experiencing mental illness get help, not violence.

CCMW will continue to amplify the voices of Soleiman’s family and friends and support them in their quest for justice.

In memory of Soleiman and many others who have lost their lives due to the horrific conditions in our correctional facilities. We honour you and every other vulnerable Canadian we have lost at the hands of the Justice System.