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Still searching for answers
Anas Bennis’ sister speaks about her brother’s death more than a year later
Khadija Bennis's twin brother has been dead for more than a year now. When I asked her what he was like, her eyes welled up with tears and she said, "he told me never to step on ants, literally, he would go out of his way to avoid stepping on ants. He was the kindest, most gentle man,” said Khadija of her twin, “I don't know why they killed him.”
Anas Bennis was killed by Montreal police in Côte-des-Neiges after leaving a mosque on the morning of December 1, 2005.
When police arrived at Khadija's door on the morning of the first, she thought it was her brother. Instead she was given the shocking news of her his death, and little explanation of the circumstances surrounding the police shooting.
Police allege that Anas attacked an officer from behind with a kitchen knife and that same officer turned around and shot him twice in the chest and shoulder in self-defence.
But the official version of events leaves many questions unanswered.
Three other officers on the scene claim no involvement in the confrontation between Anas and Officer Bernier, who eventually shot and killed Anas. Why the other officers did not participate in attempts to immobilize Anas without using deadly force in unknown.
Khadija was told that thirteen seconds elapsed between the first and the second shot. What Anas did in those thirteen seconds to necessitate a second shot is unknown.
The coroner's report indicates that both shots came from above at a forty-five degree angle, which suggests that Anas was in a much lower position than Bernier when he shot him. Why the officer did not take advantage of the apparent leverage he had on Anas in order to immobilize him is also unknown.
“If this really happened, if my brother attacked this man, there are so many other ways to immobilize people. My brother was shot in the chest,” said Khadija.
Khadija has been looking for answers about the death of her brother with little success. She, along with other members of her family and many Montreal community members, established the group Justice Pour Anas in order to work towards finding these answers.
Justice Pour Anas's demands include the immediate release of all reports, evidence and information concerning the death of Anas Bennis to the Bennis family and to the public, and a full, public and independent inquiry into the death of Anas Bennis, and an end to police brutality and impunity.
“We want to get the report of the prosecutor,” said Khadija, “It took eleven months to be done, and the prosecutor deemed that no charges would be laid against any police officers.”
“We also want to see the security videotape,” said Khadija, referring to a security videotape of the shooting taken from a nearby Bell tower.
The Bennis family requested the prosecutor's report on Anas' death, but it was denied for reasons of maintaining national security.
“I don't understand why they aren't giving us more information,” Khadija said with that same sadness in her eyes that she began the interview with, “There is someone dead.”
Though Khadija stressed that because the information regarding her brother’s death has not yet been released to her there is no way for her to know exactly why her brother was killed, she suspects her brother was targeted because of his apparent Muslim affiliation.
Khadija explained that Anas became more religious in the last six months of his life. He began going to mosque regularly and grew a beard.
He had no criminal record at the time of his death. “Nothing, not even a speeding ticket,” said Khadija.
“We were ten when we came to Quebec. We are Quebecois, we speak Quebecois. [Anas] was a cadet, and he played hockey, normal, you know? All of a sudden he started looking like a Muslim, and he's not a Canadian anymore, he's a terrorist waiting to do something.”
In the wake of police violence at the women's day march, and in light of her own experiences with police, I asked Khadija how she now feels when she sees police. The tears that had been tenuously balanced on her lower lids, finally spilled down her cheeks.
| “I don't have any bitterness or
hate for [the police]. Honestly, I say a prayer for them. I say a
prayer in my heart for them.” - Khadija Bennis |
For more information Justice Pour Anas Coalition visit their website www.justicepouranas.ca.