Family members, friends, and activists marched through the streets of Longueuil, Quebec in two separate events over the weekend, demanding justice for the tragic death of 15-year-old Nooran Rezayi.
A silent procession on Saturday commenced at the intersection of Monaco and Joseph-Daigneault streets, mere steps away from where Nooran Rezayi was fatally shot on September 21. Expressing her disbelief, Sarah Larhdaf, a close friend of Rezayi since childhood, lamented the loss, highlighting the opportunities stolen from him, including experiencing first love, graduation, and driving lessons.
The incident has triggered widespread public outcry, with Rezayi’s family and a witness affirming that he was unarmed at the time of the shooting. Nasser Pour Mohammad, present at the march, initiated an online petition urging the government to ensure transparency and conduct a public inquiry into the tragedy.
Participants in the march, including Marie Claudie Toussaint, a mother of a 16-year-old, shared their shock at such an event occurring in their community in the year 2025. Toussaint stressed the importance of educating her daughter and other young relatives to comply with police instructions if ever stopped by an officer to prevent any harm.
Following the demonstration, a group of about a dozen police officers in riot gear stationed themselves in a park, causing unease among some protesters. Organizers intervened, calling for peace and emphasizing their efforts to safeguard the youth.
In a news briefing earlier in the week, the BEI disclosed initial findings indicating that the Longueuil officers were responding to a 911 call reporting armed individuals in masks in a public area when the tragic incident unfolded.
Nazar Saaty, a volunteer lawyer with the Association de la sépulture musulmane au Québec and an event organizer, expressed hope that the community’s support for Rezayi’s family would drive substantial change. Saaty praised the BEI for holding a news conference on the matter, a rare move that signifies progress.
A subsequent protest on Sunday saw demonstrators marching towards Longueuil police headquarters, advocating for the mandatory use of police body cameras to ensure officer accountability. Protest organizer Francisco Fabian Castro emphasized the need for transparency and condemned the lack of condemnation in cases of police misconduct. Former RCMP officer Alain Babineau echoed these sentiments, advocating for the adoption of body cameras to enhance public trust in law enforcement.
The conversation surrounding police body cameras is expected to gain momentum in upcoming elections, with stakeholders emphasizing the urgency of implementing this technology for effective policing in the 21st century.
