Vigil marking 7th anniversary of Soleiman Faqiri’s death held Saturday night

A public vigil was held Saturday night to mark the seventh anniversary of the death of Soleiman Faqiri.

The event, held at 6:00 p.m. at Yonge-Dundas Square, came just days after a coroner’s inquest deemed the death of the mentally ill man at an Ontario jail a homicide.

Lawyers for the Ontario Public Service Employees Union, which represents correctional staff, wanted his death to be ruled accidental.

“It’s a different vigil in the sense that, for the last seven years, we’ve been fighting for the very things that we’ve achieved this week, part of it in the sense of getting to the truth,” said Yusuf Faqiri, Soleiman’s brother.

“This evening is to thank you, to thank all the folks, all our supporters across the nation, that have come and supported my family, and stood for Solei, because there’s a Solei among all of us.”

The jury issued a total of 57 recommendations focusing on the delivery of health care – particularly mental-health services – in corrections, training for correctional staff and management, and use-of-force practices, among other issues.

Faqiri, who was 30, was arrested in early December 2016 after allegedly stabbing a neighbour while experiencing a mental health crisis.

The three-week inquest heard that Faqiri, who had schizophrenia, appeared increasingly unwell during his time at the Central East Correctional Centre in Lindsay, but did not see a psychiatrist, nor was he taken to hospital.

“There’s no justice, but relief that after seven years of fighting and fighting, that the truth was covered into the beating death of Soleiman Faqiri,” said Yusuf.

“For the first time in seven years, my late precious brother, may God have mercy on him, he was heard and he was seen.”

Yusuf Faqiri also said that this would be the final vigil for Soleiman and thanked the community for its support, pointing out that the fight is not over.

Soleiman died on Dec. 15, 2016, after a violent struggle with correctional officers that broke out as they were escorting him from the shower to his segregation cell.

Despite the jurors finding on the cause of death, it carries no legal liability.

Provincial police investigated Faqiri’s death but no charges have ever been laid.