M.
Jacques P. Dupuis
Ministre de
10, rue Saint-Antoine Est
Bureau 11.39
Montréal (Québec)
H2Y 1E
As family physicians and residents in family medicine working in the
Côte-des-Neiges community, we wish to express our concern about
the death of
Mohamed Anas Bennis. This young man was shot twice by a
As health professionals working in a multi-ethnic community, we are
aware of
the negative consequences for mental as well as physical health of
“racial
profiling” and stereotyping of visible minorities. In the post-911
world of
security certificates and “extraordinary renditions” such as in the
case of
Maher Arar, the Arab and Muslim communities have been a particular
target of
police and security agency activity. We do not know whether
islamophobia and
racial profiling played a role in the death of Mohamed Anas Bennis, but
given
official refusal to release information, this possibility cannot be
excluded.
The lack of transparency and suppression of information in this case
does not
inspire confidence and can only increase the sense of stigmatization
felt by
local Muslims and other minority groups. We also believe that the
Bennis family
is entitled to an open and complete investigation into the
circumstances
leading to the death of their son and brother.
We therefore call for the release of all reports and evidence
pertaining to the
death of Mohamed Anas Bennis and for the Minister of Public Security to
authorize an independent public inquiry into the events surrounding his
death,
and this with the least possible delay.
Sincerely,
Dr.
Armand Aalamian
Dr.
Dr.
Tarek Loubani
Dr.
Joey Podavin
Dr.
Catherine Beauce
Dr.
Marion Dove
Dr.
Robert Mahood
Dr.
H. Rousseau
Dr.
Marie Beauregard
Dr.
Bertha Fuchsman
Dr.
Jesse McLaren
Dr.
H. Shenker
Dr.
Nazila Bettache
Dr. Vania Jimenez
Dr. Marie Munoz
Dr. Jean Zigby
Dr.
Yen Bui
Dr.
Saideh
Khadir
Dr.
Maria Perrone