Yusuf Faqiri has been on a quest for justice for nearly a decade following the tragic death of his brother, Soleiman, in an Eastern Ontario prison.
Soleiman Faqiri, a 30-year-old man living with schizophrenia, was taken into custody in 2016 after an incident where he allegedly stabbed a neighbor during a psychotic episode. While awaiting a mental health assessment, Soleiman suffered a fatal fate on the prison floor, enduring a series of physical assaults including punches, strikes, pepper spray, shackles, and a spit hood.
The official ruling from a coroner’s inquest two years ago labeled his death as a homicide. Despite numerous suggested reforms from the inquest, Yusuf Faqiri expressed disappointment that none of these recommendations have been put into practice by the Ontario government.
NDP MPP Kristyn Wong-Tam pointed out the troubling trend of a crisis brewing in Ontario’s correctional facilities, emphasizing overcrowding and understaffing issues. She criticized the Premier for neglecting the evident problems within the jails, particularly the prolonged isolation faced by individuals with severe mental health conditions due to staffing shortages.
While the Ministry of the Solicitor General has launched a new health services division to address mental health and addiction concerns, Premier Doug Ford made vague assurances of taking action to rectify the situation.
Faqiri disapproved of the Premier’s response, deeming it insensitive to the plight of those requiring mental health support in correctional facilities. He reaffirmed his commitment to advocating for justice and systemic reforms, emphasizing the need to prevent others from suffering a similar fate to his brother.