Edmonton's mayor and chief of police met with members of the Somali community
Elise Stolte
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
|
But many in a community still recovering from the shooting deaths of two young men just wanted answers.
"How convinced do you think we will be that there will be justice?" asked Abdiaziz Hassan, pointing to other unsolved murders.
Hassan's brother, Farhan, 27, and Kasim Mohamed, 28, were both shot to death outside the Fulton Place community hall Sept. 2.
Police have said neither man is believed to have gang or drug ties.
On police chief Mike Boyd's initiative, he and Mayor Stephen Mandel met with about 150 Somali men and women at a hall in the northside Athlone community Tuesday evening.
Boyd's efforts mirror his work with the Somali community as chief of police in Toronto, he said. Those efforts had practical results. "Often when crimes would occur, I'd get a phone call."
Later he said: "If there is anyone from the community who has any kind of information, especially in relation to violent crimes, please come forward."
About 7,000 people from Somalia now live in Edmonton, said Hassan Ali, president of the Somali Canadian Cultural Society. Most of them came to eastern Canada in the late '90s following the civil war. They've come west in the last three or four years.
Members of the Somali community asked for funding for youth programs and to hire staff for the cultural society. They also mentioned housing problems for their large families and struggles children face in their new schools.
Farhan Farah, a friend of one of the victims, said many came to show support "and to know what the community is going through."
Abdi Osman Mire, another friend, added: "Those guys that got killed, everybody is wondering, 'How did this happen?' "
Farah said most of the people in the hall wouldn't be there if the victims had any gang or drug ties.
Haanim Nur spoke of fear growing in the community. "I'm too scared to be alone, now," said the 16-year-old.
"The people here came for safety," added her mother Sahria Hashi. "It was really a shock."
Source: Edmonton Journal, Sept 12, 2007