December 2nd: A Second Vigil for Mohamed Anas Bennis

The following is a call for a second vigil for Mohamed Anas Bennis, to be held this Satruday December 2nd in Montreal. Translation by yours truly…

Early on the morning of December 1st 2005, on the corner of Kent Street and Côte des Neiges, an incident involving one (or more) Montreal City police officers took a tragic turn, costing the young twenty five year old Mohamed Anas Bennis his life.

One year later, the circumstances which led a police officer to use his firearm to kill Anas with two bullets, one of which in the heart, have still not been explained. Despite an investigation by the Quebec Provincial Police and an investigation by the Coroner’s office, despite an abnormally long procedure, we still do not know what happened. A few days ago a terse statement simply informed us, without giving any further details, that no charges would be laid against the police officer implicated in this incident. We learned that the entire file has been placed under a publication ban by the courts.

Even the lawyer of the family of the deceased, Pierre Paquette, had his request to see the file rejected by the Minister of Public Security.

Such secrecy obviously looks very bad, both to the family of the deceased and to all Montrealers, Quebecois and Canadians who care about the civil rights of this country’s citizens.

Public opinion continues to demand explanations as to this incident, that the truth be told and that justice be done for the late Anas Bennis and his family.

Towards this end, the Justice pour Anas collective is organizing a vigil – a peaceful silent citizen’s demonstration – this Saturday December 2nd, at noon, on the corner of Kent Street and Côte des Neiges, to demand :

• an end to the secrecy surrounding the investigation
• justice for the late Anas Bennis and his family

Rachid Najahi Groupe Atlas Media www.atlasmedias.com Tél.: 514-962-8527