Research

Soleiman’s death was not an isolated incident. Rather, his murder fits into a larger pattern of preventable deaths that have occurred within the Canadian prison system, which disproportionately kills the mentally ill and people of colour. With this in mind, the Justice for Soli movement has undertaken research into the systemic issues within the mental healthcare and prison systems that contributed to Soleiman’s death and the deaths of so many others. The goal of this research is not just to identify systemic issues, but also offer recommendations to prevent further deaths and suffering. Research topics include mental health care, the prison system, and solitary confinement. Our research has been conducted by academics and experts from various disciplines, and compiled in a series of reports that can be accessed here.

About the Movement

Justice for Soli was founded by Soleiman’s eldest brother, Yusuf Faqiri, only one or two days after his brother’s murder in December 2016. In early 2017, the McMaster Muslims for Peace and Justice became the first organization to completely throw its support behind Justice for Soli, transforming what was once a small group of friends and family into a larger social justice movement with hundreds of supporters. Today, over 100 organizations are affiliated with Justice for Soli, supporting the movement in its fight for justice, transparency and accountability.