Listen to this article
Approximately 5 minutes
The audio version of this article was created using artificial intelligence technology. Pronunciation errors may occur. We work with our partners to continually analyze and improve results.
Family members of a man who was going through a mental health crisis when he died at the hands of guards at an Ontario correctional facility in 2016 say they are still awaiting an apology from provincial officials and a coroner's recommendation into his death.
Yusuf Faqiri said at a press conference on Monday that nine years have passed since the death of his brother Suleiman Faqiri and two years since the death of coroner's inquest ruled his death a homicide and made 57 recommendations to prevent it from happening again.
“At no time has the Ontario government reached out to my family to discuss this tragedy with us.” – said Faqiri.
“They never spoke to us.”
Suleiman, who suffered from schizoaffective disorder – a combination of schizophrenic and bipolar symptoms – was taken into custody on December 4, 2016, after allegedly stabbing a neighbor during a psychotic episode, according to his family.
Less than two weeks later he died.
The 30-year-old man was awaiting a mental health assessment at the East Central Correctional Center near Lindsay, Ont., when he died face down on the floor of his cell after guards punched him multiple times, pepper-sprayed him twice, covered him with a hood and left him shackled.
An apology is long overdue, says opposition parliamentary party
Speaking at the same news conference Monday, NDP MP Christine Wong-Tam said it was long past time for the province to issue a public apology and act on the investigation's findings.
“His death was a systemic failure of Ontario's correctional and mental health systems,” Wong-Tam said. “No one should have to endure what they have already endured.”
Asked about the situation at a separate, unrelated news conference Monday, Premier Doug Ford said his “heart goes out to the family.”
WARNING: This video contains graphic images. Suleiman Faqiri died at the East Central Correctional Center in Lindsay, Ont., after guards struck him several times, pepper-sprayed him twice, covered him with a hood and placed him on his stomach on the floor of an isolation cell. Shanifa Nasser explains what the jury at the inquest into the 30-year-old's death was told.
“Anyone dies, whether they're in a correctional facility or not, no one should die,” Ford said, adding that the province is making sure that anyone working in correctional facilities who acts unprofessionally is “held accountable.”
Ford also said the province's Ministry of Solicitor General is already acting on the investigation's recommendations, although he did not provide details, and then moved on to talk about how the province plans to build more correctional facilities.
“At the end of the day, stay out of jail,” Ford said. “Stop breaking laws and you won't have to worry about anything.”
Yusuf Faqiri called Ford's response tone-deaf.
“What about those who suffer from mental health problems or bipolar disorder? Should their mental health problems be a death sentence?” he asked.
“People with mental health problems are not criminals. They are people, they are vulnerable Ontarians who need support.”
A representative of the Ministry of Justice answered questions about Faqiri's death with a statement that was word for word the same as the previous one made in May of this year.
Saddam Hussein said the government has made a “record investment” in Ontario's corrections system, including $500 million to upgrade and build facilities and hire staff.
“We also created a new health services department to ensure inmates have the care they need, including mental health and addiction support provided by social workers, nurse practitioners, mental health nurses and addiction counselors,” Hussain said.
Dozens of recommendations given at the inquiry
The long-awaited inquest into Faqiri's death took place in late 2023 and lifted the lid on what jurors described as a broken system plagued by lack of training and staff, tensions over different levels of management and an overemphasis on segregation.
Although a coroner's investigation ruled his death a homicide and found that guards committed 60 policy violations in connection with his death, no criminal charges were filed.
All 57 recommendations made by the coroner's jury are against the Ontario government. The top five recommendations include:
- Within 60 days, prepare a public position statement recognizing that prisons are not appropriate environments for people with serious mental health problems.
- Take immediate action to ensure that anyone suffering from an acute mental disorder in custody is admitted to hospital for assessment and, if necessary, treatment.
- Adopt the principle of equivalence so that those in custody receive medical care of the same quality as they receive in freedom.
- Establish a committee to ensure that the investigation's recommendations are given due consideration and that any responses are fully reported.
- Create an independent provincial corrections inspectorate.
