Mohamed Annas Bennis Death

Mr Gйrald Tremblay

Mayor of the city of Montrйal

Hфtel de ville

275, rue Notre Dame- Est bureau 1.113

Montrйal Qc H2Y 1C6



Re: The death of Mohamed Annas Bennis, who was shot dead by an SPVM police officer on December 1st 2005.



Dear Mr. Tremblay,



On Thursday, December 1, 2005, a young member of the Montreal Muslim community was shot and killed by police in an act that has grieved and outraged our community.



Mohammed Anass Bennis, a young Canadian Muslim, was returning from morning prayer when he was killed. The police have claimed that Mr. Bennis, who by all accounts was a calm and kind individual, attacked police officers. Such an act would have been entirely uncharacteristic of Mr. Bennis, and the Montreal Muslim community remains disturbed by this accusation as well as by the lack of answers forthcoming from the police about how this tragedy unfolded.



The Muslim Community of Montreal is opposed to the infringement of the rights and liberties of all Canadians. We stand in solidarity with the victim's family and demand that justice be done. The full truth concerning Mr. Bennis' death must be made known to his family and to the public.



We therefore ask for an impartial and independent investigation into the events surrounding Mr. Bennis' death. To merely allow the police to investigate themselves is unacceptable, and does not allow the public to have confidence that justice is being done.



We also ask for the police to receive sensitivity training with regards to Islam and Canadian Muslims. This incident has caused many in our community to fear that Islamophobia and racial profiling played a role in this tragedy, and sensitivity training would help regain some public confidence in the police.



We also wish to inform you that a demonstration will be held on January 7, 2006 at 11 a.m. in downtown Montreal to demonstrate our discontent with the handling of this tragedy.



We sincerely hope that you will address the concerns raised in this letter, and grant our requests in the interest of justice. We look forward to your response.





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M. Gйrald Tremblay

Maire de la ville de Montrйal

Hфtel de ville

275, rue Notre Dame- Est bureau 1.113

Montrйal Qc H2Y 1C6



Objet : Dйcиs de M. Mohamed Annas Bennis, abattu par un membre du service de la SPVM, le 1er dйcembre 2005.



Cher Monsieur Tremblay



Le jeudi 1 Dйcembre 2005, un jeune canadien de confession musulmane a йtй abattu par un policier de la police de Montrйal. Cet acte a outragй notre communautй



Mohammed Anass Bennis, un jeune canadien musulman a йtй abattu en revenant de sa priиre matinale.

La police dйclare que M. Bennis, connu pour son caractиre calme et timide, a attaquй les policiers. Cette prйtention est incompatible avec le comportement de M. Bennis; chose qui a laissй la communautй musulmane perturbйe devant ces accusations, dautant plus quil n y avait pas dexplications claires de la part de la police sur les circonstances de la tragйdie.



La communautй musulmane montrйalaise sindigne de cet acte injuste et enregistre son opposition vigoureuse а lйcrasement des droits et libertйs dont toute la communautй musulmane est victime au Canada. La communautй, en solidaritй avec la famille du dйfunt, veut connaоtre la vйritй et rйclame que justice soit faite.



Par ailleurs, nous demandons une enquкte impartiale et indйpendante en ce qui a trait aux йvйnements entourant la mort de M. Bennis. Autoriser la police а investiguer elle-mкme sur laffaire sera inacceptable et ne convaincra pas le public que la justice sera faite.

Nous demandons aussi а ce que la police de Montrйal soit sensibilisйe sur l'islam et la communautй musulmane. Cet incident a crйe une sorte de crainte parmi la communautй que les propagandes islamophobes et le profilage raciale ont jouй un rфle dans cette tragйdie.

Nous tenons а vous informer quune manifestation aura lieu le 7 janvier 2006 а 11h00 au centre ville pour protester contre cet acte.

Veuillez, Monsieur le Maire, prendre en charge personnelle cette affaire afin de rendre cette enquкte publique et transparente.