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Thursday May 3rd: Confront the Public Security Commission withUnanswered Questions in the Case of Mohamed Anas Bennis

On December 1st, 2005 - more than one year ago - police officer Bernierfrom Station 25 shot and killed Mohamed Anas Bennis, a 25-year oldCanadian of Moroccan heritage. Anas was killed outside a neighborhoodmosque at the corner of Côte-des-Neiges and Kent, just minutesfrom his home. The police claim that Anas inexplicably attacked themwith a kitchen knife. However, Anas' family and friends find this hardto believe. They are frustrated by the attitude of the authorities whorefuse to make the evidence available, including a videotape thatcaptured the incident.

Indeed, this entire case has been marked by evasiveness, inconsistentversions of what occurred, and a refusal to answer the most basic ofquestions, and this from all levels of government.

On Thursday May 3rd people have an opportunity to ask some of thesequestions to members of the Montreal's Public Security Commission,which will be meeting at Montreal City Hall. This is the body ofpoliticians and police officials who pretend to be accountable for whatthe police do.

The Justice For Anas Coalition invites all supporters to come to thisassembly to demand answers to our questions, and support the Bennisfamily in its ongoing quest for justice.

Representatives of the Coalition will be there to ask questions, butsupporters can also do so. If you are not sure of what to ask, we havesome suggestions below.

Please note that in order to be allowed to ask a question one must bethere to sign in at 6:30pm - the assembly opens at 7pm, and can last anhour or more.

Where:



Some questions that you can ask:

• On December 1st 2005 Mohamed Anas Bennis was shot and killed onthe corner of Kent and Cote-des-Neiges by police officer Bernier ofStation 25. On December 5th 2005 the police officer charged withinvestigating this killing announced that there was a security video ofthe shooting, shot by the cameras at the Bell building on Kent andCote-des-Neiges. Does the commission know why this security video hasnever been made public, and has the commission made any efforts tolocate it? If not, why not?
  
  
• On December 1st 2005 Mohamed Anas Bennis was shot and killed onthe corner of Kent and Cote-des-Neiges by police officer Bernier ofStation 25. The police claimed that Anas was attacking Bernier with akitchen knife. If this is so, then why was this knife never shown tothe public or to members of the Bennis family? Have members of thecommission made any efforts to locate this knife? If not, why not?
  
  
• On December 1st 2005 Mohamed Anas Bennis was shot and killed onthe corner of Kent and Cote-des-Neiges by police officer Bernier ofStation 25. The police claim that Anas Bennis was attacking them with aknife and was shot in self-defense. If this is so, why did the autopsyshow that the bullets entered Mr Bennis' body from the top down andfrom two different angles? Have members of the commission looked intothe inconsitency? If not, why not?
  
  
• On December 1st 2005 Mohamed Anas Bennis was shot and killed onthe corner of Kent and Cote-des-Neiges by police officer Bernier ofStation 25. Almost one year later it was announced that charges wouldnot be brought against officer Bernier. We would like to know ifofficer Bernier is still employed at Station 25, and if so in whatcapacity?
  
  
• Over the past twenty years more than thirty people have died atthe hands of police in Montreal. What if anything does the commissionplan to do to make sure that these police killings do not continue?
  
  
• Racial profiling is a widespread problem across Canada, andpeople from many different Montreal communities feel unfairly singledout by the police. Does the Montreal police force keep statistics onthe race or ethnicity of people questioned, detained, ticketed, orcharged by Montreal police officers?

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

The Justice for Anas Coalition
514.342.2111
justicepouranas@gmail.com