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Call, Fax or Email Jacques P. Dupuis, Quebec Minister fo Public Security, and Demand Justice for the Police Killing of Mohamed Anas Bennis!
We are asking that you take 5 minutes to call, fax, or email 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 information concerning the death of Anas Bennis to the Bennis family and to the public;
2. full, public and independent inquiry into the death of Anas Bennis;
3. an end to police brutality and impunity.
We feel that Minister Dupuis' duty and responsibility to meet the first 2 demands. Some basic questions to ask on the phone:
- If Mohamed Anas Bennis really did attack officer Bernier of Station 25 with a kitchen knife as the Montreal Police say he did, why has the evidence of this knife not been shown to the Bennis family or to the public? If Bernier really did sustain injuries, why was this evidence not revealed?
- Why was the video captured of the event by the security cameras on the Bell building not released to the public?
- Why has there not been an independent and public inquiry into this incident?
Please 'cc' all your email correspondence with Dupuis' office to justicepouranas@gmail.com .
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You can reach Jacques P. Dupuis office in Montreal by
Phone:514 873-3500
Fax : 514 873-6597
Email : ministre@msp.gouv.qc.ca
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On the phone, be polite and patient, but also persistent. Make sure that you get your message across in a clear and effective way.
(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 Mohammed Anas Bennis. On December 1st, 2005, police officer Bernier from Montreal Police Station 25 shot and killed Anas Bennis, a 25-year old Canadian of Moroccan heritage. Anas was killed outside a neighborhood mosque at the corner of Côte-des-Neiges and Kent, just minutes from his home.
The police claim that Anas inexplicably attacked them with a kitchen knife. However, Anas' family and friends find this hard to believe. They are frustrated by the attitude of the authorities who refuse to make the evidence available, including a videotape that captured the incident.
The Quebec City police undertook a closed investigation and, on November 4th, 2006, the crown prosecutor decided that no criminal charges would be laid against the police officers. Yet, he has refused to provide a written copy of his report to the Bennis family. Likewise, the police report remains secret, because you intervened to make sure it would be suppressed.
To date, there has never been any public inquiry, but in August 2008, the Montreal Police Brotherhood filed court proceedings to prevent a coroner's inquiry (called by Louise Nolet in June 2008) from going ahead.
No satisfactory explanation for Anas' death by police has been offered to the Bennis family. The mystery and secrecy surrounding this case reinforces the belief that Anas Bennis was killed by police in a case of racial and religious profiling. As the Quebec Minister of Public Security, we feel that it is your responsibility to bring to light many details surrounding Anas' death.
Finally, I am writing to you to in support the 3 demands of the Justice For Anas Coalition, which are;
1. the immediate release of all reports, evidence and information concerning the death of Anas Bennis to the Bennis family and to the public;
2. a full, public and independent inquiry into the death of Anas Bennis;
3. an end to police brutality and impunity. As Minister of Public Security, I feel that it is your duty to take action into the first two demands.
I thank you for your attention into this matter, and I expect a swift response and prompt action to be taken to bring long-overdue justice and closure to the Bennis family.
Sincerely,
(your name, address)
cc. Justice For Anas Coalition
justicepouranas@gmail.com