My Brother, Soleiman
Directed by
Rendah Haj and Eric Pedicelli
Through chilling CCTV footage, Yusuf Faqiri discovers the shocking reality
of his brother’s death in an Ontario prison.
A CBC Original Documentary
World Broadcast Premiere – CBC TV Passionate Eye
Wednesday November 13, 2024
Streaming Available on
CBC Gem and CBC Youtube Immediately Following Broadcast
December 12, 2024
One Year Anniversary of the Inquest Verdict
PRESS RELEASE
Toronto, ON – My Brother, Soleiman, a powerful and deeply personal documentary, directed by Rendah Haj and Eric Pedicelli, will premiere on CBC TV, November 13, 2024, 9:00pm ET.
Immediately following the broadcast My Brother Soleiman will begin streaming on CBC Gem and CBC YouTube and launch into a meaningful impact-driven social campaign, that includes the one year anniversary of the inquest verdict on December 12 and 57 recommendations that remain unmet.
Synopsis Soleiman Faqiri, who suffered from schizophrenia, was found dead in an Ontario jail. After a courageous seven-year fight for answers, his brother Yusuf finally learns the shocking truth about Soleiman’s death through a much anticipated coroner’s inquest.
My Brother, Soleiman weaves together eyewitness accounts, and chilling jail CCTV footage as the inquest unfolds, laying bare the conditions of Soleiman’s confinement and the events leading up to his tragic death.
The Faqiri family shares an intimate portrait of Soleiman—an athlete and promising engineering student—whose devotion to his family and faith remained steadfast despite his deteriorating mental health, which caused growing concern and efforts to care for him.
Inspired by his mother Maryam’s unyielding strength, Yusuf leads a campaign for truth and accountability that perseveres through three police investigations that end without criminal charges, setting the stage for a coroner’s inquest that provides new evidence and a stunning verdict.
In a rare interview, Correctional Sergeant Clark Moss, a 27-year veteran, candidly speaks on a video he filmed—against jail policy—to document Soleiman’s deplorable conditions. Moss offers critical insight into the challenges frontline staff face while navigating complex, high-risk situations, emphasizing the urgent need for specialized training in working with individuals experiencing a mental health crisis.
My Brother, Soleiman takes a compassionate yet incisive approach in examining the systemic failures that led to Soleiman’s tragic death. It confronts viewers with the human toll and the complex realities at the intersection of mental illness and the prison system, highlighting the urgent need for reform.
Directed by Rendah Haj and Eric Pedicelli, Produced by Eric Pedicelli and Yusuf Zine, Written by Eric Pedicelli and Yusuf Zine, Edited by James Yates, Director of Photography is Eric Pedicelli, and Original Music Composed by Ben Fox.
Produced with the participation of Rogers Documentary Fund, The Canadian Film or Video Production Tax Credit, Ontario Film and Television Tax Credits. Produced by How to Fight for Justice Films Inc. For the CBC; General Manager, Entertainment, Factual & Sports Sally Catto, Executive Director, Unscripted Content Jennifer Dettman, Senior Director, Documentary Sandra Kleinfeld, Senior Director of Production, Unscripted Content Alexandra Lane, Executive in Charge of Production Michelle McCree. Produced in association with Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.