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The latest developments indicate that the Ontario Provincial Police’s decision was to not lay criminal charges against any of the guards in relation to the beating and death of Soleiman in December 2016. Friends and family of Soleiman Faqiri have expressed their profound sadness and disappointment in this decision.
We refuse to accept the OPP’s explanation that they can’t lay charges because they don’t know which of the guards put their knee on Soleiman’s neck or which of the guards delivered the fatal blow. If these guards participated in a group beating, then they all should be liable for the acts of their accomplices.
Soleiman, who suffered from schizophrenia, was in custody at Central East Correctional Centre in Lindsay, Ontario, as he waited for a bed to open up at the Ontario Shores hospital. But on December 15, 2016, while transporting Soleiman from one unit to another, guards pepper sprayed Soleiman, put a spit hood on his head, punched and kicked him, and left him face down and restrained with his hands tied behind his back in a cell. Soleiman died during the attack.
The local police force, Kawartha Lakes Police Service, originally conducted the criminal investigation but declined to lay charges. After the ensuing public outcry, and with the benefit of new eyewitness evidence, the OPP agreed to reinvestigate but recently announced that they will not proceed with charges. They have told the family that they could not be assured of a successful prosecution against any of the individual guards.
Join us on Saturday August 15th in front of the headquarters of the Ministry of the Solicitor General at 25 Grosvenor Street to demand answers and justice in the killing of Soleiman Faqiri while under government care.
More details here: https://www.facebook.com/events/296515831411731?active_tab=about
More details here: https://www.facebook.com/events/296515831411731?active_tab=about