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CALL OR FAX JACQUES P.DUPUIS, QUEBEC MINISTER OF PUBLIC SECURITYAND DEMAND JUSTICE FOR THE POLICE KILLING OF MOHAMED ANAS BENNIS!


On MONDAY JUNE 18th, the Justice For Anas Coalition and theirsupporters will be holding a demonstration outside the Montreal officesof Jacques P. Dupuis, the Quebec Minister of Public Security andrecently appointed Minster of Justice. They will be demanding thatMinister Dupuis intervene to release all the evidence
and reports surrounding the police killing of Mohamed Anas Bennis onDecember 1st, 2005, and that a public inquiry be launched into thematter.

We are encouraging all our allies to call and fax Minister Dupuis'office to support the demands of the Justice For Anas Coalition(contact info and a model letter are included below).

Our demands are:

  1. the immediate release of all reports, evidence and informationconcerning the death of Anas Bennis to the Bennis family and to thepublic;
  2. full, public and independent inquiry into the death of AnasBennis;
  3. an end to police brutality and impunity.

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Some questions to ask on the phone:


  • If Mohamed Anas Bennis really did attack officer Bernier ofStation 25 with a kitchen knife as the Montreal Police say he did, whyhas the evidence of this knife not been shown to the Bennis family orto the public? If Bernier really did sustain injuries, why was thisevidence not revealed?
  • Why was the video captured of the event by the security camerason the Bell building not released to the public?
  • Why has there not been an independent and public inquiry intothis incident?
  • On April 11th 2007, there was a picket in front of JacquesDupuis' office. During this picket, a delegation made up of members ofthe Bennis family
  • has visited the minister's office to present a letter written bythe Bennis family, demanding justice in the death of Anas. The familywas told they would receive a
response for a meeting. More than two months later, why haven't theyheard back from Jacques Dupuis' office?

(Further background info can be found at http://www.justicepouranas.org)

On the phone, be polite and patient, but also persistent. Make surethat you get your message across in a clear and effective way.

Please cc all your email correspondence with Dupuis' office to justicepouranas@gmail.com.

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>> MINISTER DUPUIS MONTREAL OFFICE CONTACT INFO:
You can reach Jacques P. Dupuis office in Montreal by
Phone:514 873-3500
Fax : 514 873-6597
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(Model letter)

M. Jacques P. Dupuis
Ministre de la Securité publique
10, rue Saint-Antoine Est Bureau 11.39
Montreal (Quebec)
H2Y 1E2

M. Dupuis,

I am writing to you to bring to your attention the case of MohammedAnas Bennis. On December 1st, 2005 -- more than 18 months ago -- policeofficer Bernier from Montreal Police Station 25 shot and killed AnasBennis, a 25-year old Canadian of Moroccan heritage. Anas was killedoutside a neighborhood mosque at the corner of Côte-des-Neigesand Kent, just minutes from his home.

The police claim that Anas inexplicably attacked them with a kitchenknife. However, Anas' family and friends find this hard to believe.They are frustrated by the attitude of the authorities who refuse tomake the evidence available, including a videotape that captured theincident.

There has never been any public inquiry, but Quebec City policeundertook a closed investigation. On November 4th, 2006, the crownprosecutor decided that no criminal charges would be laid against thepolice officers, yet he has refused to provide a written copy of hisreport to the Bennis family. Likewise, the police report remainssecret, because you intervened to make sure it was not made public.

No satisfactory explanation for Anas' death by police has been offeredto the Bennis family. The mystery and secrecy surrounding this casereinforces the belief that Anas Bennis was killed by police in a caseof racial and religious profiling. As the Quebec Minister of PublicSecurity and Justice, we feel that it is your responsibility to bringto light many details surrounding Anas' death. 18 months is far toolong to wait for justice in this matter.

Finally, I am writing to you to in support the 3 demands of the JusticeFor Anas Coalition, which are;

1. the immediate release of all reports, evidence and informationconcerning the death of Anas Bennis to the Bennis family and to thepublic;
2. a full, public and independent inquiry into the death of AnasBennis;
3. an end to police brutality and impunity.

As Minister of Public Security and Justice, I feel that it is your dutyto take action into the first two demands.

I thank you for your attention into this matter, and I expect a swiftresponse and prompt action to be taken to bring long-overdue justiceand closure to the Bennis family.

Sincerely,

(your name, address)

cc. Justice For Anas Coalition
justicepouranas@gmail.com

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Justice For Anas Coalition
tel: 514-342-2111
email: justicepouranas@gmail.com
web: http://www.justicepouranas.org