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Parole Board Grants Limited Release to Hamed Shafia, Denies Mosque Visit
By Drooid · · How we work
Parole Board Decision (September 18 2026)
On September 18 2026, a panel of the Parole Board of Canada ruled that Hamed Mohammed Shafia, who is serving a life sentence for four counts of first-degree murder, may be granted a brief escorted visit to a minimum-security facility. The board rejected his request for an escorted absence to attend a mosque. The decision was communicated by panel member Mike Bossio, who noted that Shafia has shown progress and insight into his past behaviour but still requires further rehabilitation before any additional privileges are considered.
Background of the Murders
In June 2009, the bodies of Shafia’s three teenage sisters—Zainab, Sahar and Geeti (13)—and his father’s first wife, Rona Amir Mohammad, were discovered in a car at the bottom of the Rideau Canal in Kingston, Ontario. A 2012 trial concluded that the killings were driven by the family’s “twisted concept of honour,” as described by the presiding judge. The Shafia family had immigrated from Afghanistan and settled in Montreal, where the father operated a successful business.
Legal History and Appeals
The Shafia brothers were convicted in January 2012 of first-degree murder, an offence that carries an automatic life sentence with no eligibility for parole for 25 years. After his conviction, Hamed Shafia argued that he was too young to be tried as an adult; the Ontario Court of Appeal rejected this claim, and the Supreme Court of Canada declined to hear a further appeal in 2017.
Official Statements & Responses
Mike Bossio, speaking for the parole panel, emphasized that while Shafia’s conduct in prison reflects “a lot of progress,” the board believes a “gradual approach” is necessary and that additional work remains before any further escorted absences can be approved. The board’s partial approval reflects its assessment of Shafia’s rehabilitation trajectory.
Implications
The limited release underscores the parole board’s cautious stance on granting privileges to individuals convicted of high-profile honour-based killings. By allowing a controlled visit to a minimum-security setting while denying a mosque outing, the board signals a balance between acknowledging rehabilitation progress and maintaining public safety concerns tied to the severity of the original offences.