More than a hundred Canadian doctors, lawyers, academics and politicians have signed an open letter calling for accountability in the death of a mentally ill man at the hands of Ontario prison guards in 2016.

The letter demands justice for Soleiman Faqiri, a man who was was pepper-sprayed and beaten after refusing to get out of the shower, according to a 2017 internal report by the Kawartha Lakes Police Service.

The letter was written by supporters of Justice for Soli movement, a movement that was started by Faqiri’s family and friends.

“Suffering from schizophrenia and waiting for a bed in a mental health facility, Mr. Faqiri was held in solitary confinement and was prevented from receiving visits from his family. A coroner’s report found that almost all of the more than 50 signs of recent injury identified on Faqiri’s body were caused by “blunt impact trauma,” the letter reads.

“Ontarians need answers as to what really happened to Mr. Faqiri, so that such a tragedy never happens again,” says the letter.

Around 30 doctors have signed the petition.

Justice for Soleiman Faqiri open letter View document on Scribd

Sen. Kim Pate is one of the prominent supporters and signatories of the letter, which demands those responsible for Faqiri’s death to be held accountable.

“Given all we know about the inability of prisons to respond appropriately to individuals with mental health issues, it would be preferable for the government to invest in mental health services in the community and focus on decarcerating those with mental health issues,” she said.

Yasin Dwyer, executive director of the Muslim Chaplaincy of Toronto and Former Federal Prison Chaplain says Faqiri’s death is “a testament to our failure to live up to our claim of being a society based on the values of justice and accountability.”

Faqiri, was arrested and held at Central East Correctional Centre in December 2016 for charges of aggravated assault, assault and uttering threats.

A second investigation into Faqiri’s death began in January 2019 after a witness stepped forward, according to Yusuf Faqiri.

The investigation is being conducted by Ontario Provincial Police and remains ongoing.

A Change.org campaign created by the Justice for Soli group in 2019 has collected over 17,000 signatures urging for accountability of Faqiri’s death, an acknowledgment and official apology to the Faqiri family and reform to the mental health training within the prison system.

Faqiri did not have a criminal record, but had been apprehended under the Mental Health Act about 10 times in the last 10 years, and had been diagnosed with schizophrenia.

He was placed in solitary confinement while awaiting a mental health assessment. He died 11 days later, after guards at the provincial facility pepper-sprayed and beat him after he refused to get out of the shower, according to a 2017 internal report by the Kawartha Lakes Police Service that refers to surveillance video.

Documents obtained by the Star through a freedom of information request said that 20 to 30 officers were involved in subduing him, he was pepper sprayed twice, his face covered with a spit hood, and his body held down with leg irons.

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In January 2018, Faqiri’s family filed a $14.3-million lawsuit against the province for “excessive force.” The lawsuit names the Ontario Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services, the superintendent of the Central East Correctional Centre and several individual correctional staff members.

Its claims include that Faqiri’s charter rights were breached, that there was battery amounting to “intentional” physical harm, negligence, abuse of public office, false imprisonment, and a breach of duty of care and the inflicting of psychiatric damage.

Update- Feb 26, 2020: The article has been updated from a previous version that stated the letter was signed by Ontarians. It was also signed by people across Canada. As well, The Justice for Soli movement was started by Soleiman’s family and friends.

With files from Fatima Sayed

Margaryta Ignatenko is a breaking news reporter, working out of the Star’s radio room in Toronto. Follow her on Twitter: @MargarytaIgnat1