Marrisa Shen murder: plea against ‘backlash’ after Syrian refugee’s arrest as Vancouver residents remember 13-year-old victim
Police believe that Shen was killed by Ibrahim Ali, 28, a Syrian refugee living in Vancouver. Now the Syrian-Canadian community is appealing for calm
A group of prominent Syrian-Canadians has released a statement on behalf of their community after a Syrian refugee was arrested for the “despicable” murder of Vancouver-area schoolgirl Marrisa Shen, 13, telling her family that “our hearts go out to you”.
The statement, signed by 16 Syrian-Canadians, including academics, business figures, and political figures, also pleaded against a “backlash” on other refugees.
It was issued in response to the police announcement on Monday that Ibrahim Ali, 28, had been charged with murdering Shen, who was killed just three months after Ali arrived in Canada. The schoolgirl’s killing stunned the region when her body was found in a Burnaby, British Columbia, park in July 2017, sparking a vast 14-month manhunt.
“The Syrian community in Canada join their fellow Canadians today in shock and condemnation of the despicable homicide of young Marrisa Shen,” the statement said. “We also share in the grief and sorrow of her family. Our hearts go out to you.”
