Recipients: 

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Dear Justin Trudeau (Prime Minister of Canada), Sasha Kiran Cragg-Gore (President of the Canadian Human Rights Commission of Canada); Rosemary Moodie (Co-Chair of the Parliamentary Black Caucus and Chair of the African Canadian Senators Group),  Shawn Tupper (Deputy Minister of Public Safety Canada), Ahmed Hussen (Minister of Diversity, Inclusion and Youth of Canada), Marci Ien (Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Youth of Canada), Bronwyn Eyre, (Minister and Attorney General of Saskatchewan), Lori Carr (Minister Responsible for Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming), Saskatchewan New Democratic Party,  M.D. Popescul (Chief Justice of the Court of King’s Bench), Barry Wilcox (Chief Commissioner of the Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission), Scott Moe (Premiere of Saskatchewan) Charlie Clark (Mayor of Saskatoon), Troy Cooper (Saskatoon Chief of Police), and the Community Engagement Division of Saskatoon Police Service. 

 
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We are the parents and siblings of Hodan Hashi, we’ve launched this petition to express our outrage and sadness at the attack which led to the death of our beloved daughter, sister, aunt, and cousin, Hodan Hashi; and demand swift and fair justice for Hodan Hashi, her family, friends, and community. May Allah rest her soul in eternal peace and grant her Jannah Al-Firdaus. 

Hodan Hashi was a 23-year-old, loving, kind-hearted, social Muslim Black woman with a beautiful smile, many friends and goals. Born in Ottawa, an unceded Algonquin Anishnaabe territory, Hodan was the 6th of nine children born to two Somali-Canadian parents. Hodan was an amazing community member who dedicated a lot of her time as a translator to Somali newcomers and had a dream of helping children with disabilities reach their highest potential. One of Hodan’s siblings stated that she “wanted to pursue that for her and help make society more inclusive for children like our baby sister.” She planned to begin her studies in early childhood education in January 2023, at Saskatchewan Polytechnic. Hodan was 2 months away from beginning her academic career and pursuing her dreams. This is sadly no longer possible.

Hodan Hashi’s hopes and dreams were tragically taken away at the hands of Paige Chyrstelle Josanne Theriault-Fisher, hereinafter referred to as “the accused”. This tragic incident took place around 2:40 a.m. on Saturday, November 5th, 2022, with delayed intervention from service providers, event hosts, and bystanders. Bystanders pulled out their cell phones to record the attack instead of de-escalating or calling for help. In the excruciatingly painful and graphic videos, with varying angles, the audio captures an individual acknowledging and announcing the altercation to all attendees via a microphone/PA system. This has further traumatized and scarred the Hashi Family, and the community at large. According to a public database, the establishment is in downtown Saskatoon and owned by Blue Clegg of CYFJ Holdings, who, in March of 2020, chose not to alter their security measures following a shooting nearby and a stabbing inside their venue in April of 2018. 

Additionally, it is extremely unsettling that the same police services who responded and downgraded the charges have a lengthy and significant public record of racism, discrimination and bias: Saskatoon Starlight Tour, ​targeting of Indigenous women,​ acquittal of Gerald Stanley​, attempt on Darrell Night’s life,​ altering of documents within the coroner's office​, carding and racial profiling, and many, many, other stories that have eroded trust with Black, Indigenous, Persons of Color (BIPOC) communities. It’s essential to highlight that the institutions that swiftly downgraded charges and released a white woman on bail after publicly and viciously killing Hodan, a Black, Somali, Muslim woman, have a history of repeatedly harming and violently abusing Black and Indigenous community members for decades.

The accused was arrested on the scene and charged with second-degree murder. As the Hashi Family attempted to gather their emotions, transport the body to their hometown (Ottawa) and arrange an Islamic funeral, the accused’s charges had already been reduced to manslaughter on the basis of “self-defense” and subsequently granted bail for a measly $5,000 by Senior Crown Prosecutor Franklin Impey. The accused was released and safely brought home before Hodan Hashi was buried to rest. The swiftness of the release of the accused paired with the delayed communication with the Hashi Family has triggered great concern, trauma, and distrust which foreshadows the upcoming proceedings and the outcome of this case.

Despite video evidence that many have viewed online, clearly depicting the intention of the accused’s attack, this decision was finalized prior to consultation or input from the Hashi Family.  Impey has been previously accused of racial bias, where he mocked the claims by replying: “It looks to me like firearms-ism and stolen car-ism.” To give additional perspective, the same Crown Prosecutor gave an Indigenous man seven (7) years for a stabbing which he was coerced to do against his will by a known gang, this incident did not result in death. 

The reality is that the trust between our communities and the legal system is broken and has been for generations. We are demanding that all levels of the legal system uphold the integrity of the law, transparency of the process, and accountability towards the citizens it is designed to serve. 

The sequence of events and decisions that ensued have spoken volumes to the Somali, Muslim, and Black communities and allies in the Prairies, and across Canada. This brutal incident has changed the lives of the Hashi family and community members which will have a long-lasting traumatic impact on our communities. As we are learning the details surrounding this incident and the response that ensued, we are demanding the following by December 21, 2022:

• We call on all legal parties involved to identify and outline a clear and transparent communication plan to the Hashi Family that is implemented for the investigation process and the trial proceedings. 
• We demand that the accused’s history, affiliations, and allegiances are thoroughly investigated and considered as evidence in legal matters.
• Effective immediately, we demand that all media personnel, advocacy organizations, and all looking to cover this story cease the use of any of Hodan Hashi’s photos, as per the family’s beliefs and repeated requests. 
• Effective immediately, we demand that any and ALL videos of Hodan’s last moments be permanently deleted from devices and removed from all social media platforms. Violence against Black/Somali/Muslim women is not entertainment to share, debate, or capitalize on. 

Please be mindful and extend the same respect that you would expect to receive when facing challenges. We also ask that everyone continue to make prayer and du’a for our daughter and our family.

Currently, the only accounts that have been created with the Hashi Family’s consent are: an Instagram page JusticeForHodanHashi and a twitter page @JusticeForHodan. We are not affiliated with any other accounts. If you see any accounts impersonating or spreading misinformation, please report them immediately and let us know. We truly appreciate the international support we have received thus far and hope we can continue relying on the community on this path to seek justice for Hodan Hashi.

We are aiming to achieve 15k signatures by December 15th.

Sincerely and with love, rage, and solidarity with everyone facing injustice,

-The parents and siblings of Hodan Hashi