Alexandre Bissonnette, the individual who admitted to the fatal shooting of six men at a mosque in Quebec City back in 2017, is seeking a transfer to a medium-security prison due to concerns for his safety. The shooting took place at the Islamic Cultural Centre in the Sainte-Foy neighborhood approximately a decade ago, resulting in 19 people being wounded and 17 children being left without fathers.
Bissonnette had been residing at the regional mental health center in Sainte-Anne-des-Plaines, Quebec, from 2019 to 2023. However, since September 2023, he has been serving a life sentence at the Port-Cartier Institution, a facility classified as maximum security. His lawyer, Sylvie Bordelais, contends that based on multiple psychological assessments conducted during his confinement, most recently in 2025 and 2026, he could be housed in a medium-security prison instead.
A recent petition argues that Bissonnette has met the criteria for transfer to a medium-security prison for quite some time. It references a psychological evaluation from 2025 that highlighted the challenges he faced in his current environment, particularly due to the attention on his crime that led to harassment and violence from fellow inmates.
Despite these recommendations, the petition alleges that Bissonnette was moved to Port-Cartier a few years ago, far away from his parents who have reportedly been supportive during his incarceration. The document also mentions his engagement in restorative justice efforts and the fact that he has refrained from violence despite being subjected to it.
In response to the petition, Aymen Derbali, who was left paralyzed in the 2017 attack, acknowledged Bissonnette’s right to request a transfer but suggested that the high-security placement was likely due to the severity of his crime. Derbali expressed surprise at the reports of Bissonnette facing intimidation, as he believed the inmate was more isolated. He trusts that authorities will assess the situation appropriately, acknowledging that each impacted family will have unique perspectives on the matter.