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Bashir Makhtal

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Bashir Makhtal
Born1977
Ethiopia
StatusFreed

Bashir Ahmed Makhtal (Somali: Bashiir Axmed Makhtal) is a Canadian citizen formerly held in an Ethiopian prison, where he was accused of terrorism and faced the death penalty.[1][2] The Canadian government was criticized by several groups for its initial inaction on demanding Makhal's release, including Amnesty International.[3][4]

Biography

Makhtal was born in Ethiopia to Somali parents, who had fled war-torn Somalia in 1972.[5] His grandfather was a founder of the rebel group Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF), which is classified as a terrorist organization by Ethiopia. In 1991, Bashir immigrated to Toronto, Canada, where he studied computer science at the DeVry Institute of Technology, later completing his bachelor's degree in Texas.[6] In 1994 he was granted Canadian citizenship, and was employed as a computer programmer by the Bank of Montreal and CIBC.[6]

In 2002, Makhtal travelled to the United Arab Emirates, from which he travelled to Djibouti, Kenya, Eritrea, and Somalia, selling clothing to support himself.[6][7] In 2006, after Ethiopia's militarily intervention in Somalia, Canadian Foreign Affairs advised Canadians in Somalia to flee the impending conflict.[8] Makhtal flew to neighboring Kenya, but was arrested during the flight. After spending three weeks in Nairobi jail,[7] Makhtal was extraordinarily renditioned to the Ethiopian-backed government in Somalia, which extradited him to Ethiopia.[3] Makhtal was accused of being a member of the ONLF based on the prior membership of his grandfather,[9][8] as well as collaborating with the Somali terrorist group al-Shabab. The Ethiopian government denied Makhtal representation in court by his Canadian lawyer, saying that Makhtal was already being represented by an Ethiopian lawyer.[10][11] The Ethiopian court found Makhtal guilty of being a member of the ONLF and working with the Eritrean government to organize the financing, recruiting, and training of ONLF militants.[12] Several reports claimed that Makhtal was tortured by interrogators while in prison,[13][14] though the Ethiopian government denied this.[15] In June 2007 he was able to have a letter delivered to his family.[8]

Throughout Makhtal's imprisonment, many people in Canada, including Makhal's family, called for his release. Makhtal's wife, Aziza Osman, campaigned for both his release and that of her uncle, who faced a similar renditioning.[16] In August 2009, Makhtal's Canadian lawyer announced that he would sue the Canadian government to force it to halt aid to Ethiopia unless Makhtal was released.[17] In December 2009, after the Ethiopian Supreme Court rejected Makhtal's appeal, his relatives in Canada asked Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper to directly intervene in the case.[18]

On April 18, 2018, Makhtal was released from prison, and returned to Canada on April 21.[19][20]

Reactions

Canada

At the time of Maktal's imprisonment, the ruling Conservative Party was accused by the NDP and the Liberal party of not aiding non-white Canadians imprisoned in foreign countries.[5][21] After being assured of Maktal's well-being in March 2008, the Canadian government sent Deepak Obhrai, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, to Ethiopia in June to inquire about Maktal's situation.[22][23] In February 2009, the Canadian government announced that it would seek Makhtal's release.[9]

Ethiopia

Responding to accusations of human rights violations, the Ethiopian government accused Western countries of not condemning the attacks of the Ogaden National Liberation Front.[24][25][26]

See also

References

  1. ^ Thomas Walkom (June 14, 2007). "Double standard for Canadians in trouble abroad". Toronto Star. Archived from the original on 2012-12-27. But if a Canadian is unlucky enough to run into trouble with a country that Ottawa does not wish to offend, it is a different story. In those cases, the government says little and does less. If the Canadian is unpopular or lacks media-savvy supporters, the government pays even less attention.
  2. ^ Debra Black (2012-12-27). "Negotiations under way to bring imprisoned Bashir Makhtal back to Canada". Toronto Star. Archived from the original on 2012-12-27.
  3. ^ a b CBC, "Group worries execution close for Canadian held in Ethiopian jail Archived 2008-07-30 at the Wayback Machine", July 17, 2008
  4. ^ "Call for action by Canada and Ethiopia on Canadian rendition case". Amnesty International. 2007-11-22. Archived from the original on 25 November 2007. Retrieved 2007-11-29.
  5. ^ a b Jack Layton (January 24, 2007). "MacKay must intervene in case of Canadian held abroad: Bashir Makhtal case echoes those of Arar, Celil". New Democratic Party. Archived from the original on 2007-11-14. Retrieved 2007-11-29.
  6. ^ a b c Friends and Family of Bashir Makhtal, Biography of Bashir Makhtal Archived 2008-07-05 at the Wayback Machine
  7. ^ a b Debra Black (February 4, 2007). "Family fears for deported man's life: Kin queried as Somali-Canadian held in Ethiopia". Toronto Star. Archived from the original on 2011-07-07. Retrieved 2007-11-29.
  8. ^ a b c Thomas Walkom (November 29, 2007). "Why is PM forgetting Makhtal?". Toronto Star. Archived from the original on 1 December 2007. Retrieved 2007-11-29.
  9. ^ a b Vancouver Sun, Conservatives pressure Ethiopia to free jailed Canadian Archived March 18, 2009, at the Wayback Machine, February 23, 2009
  10. ^ Lorne Waldman (May 4, 2007). "Canadian Ethiopian". CBC Radio. Archived from the original on 2007-11-20. Retrieved 2007-11-29.
  11. ^ "Bashir appears in Ethiopian court with lawyer". Archived from the original on 2009-03-22. Retrieved 2009-05-13.
  12. ^ "Canadian jailed for life". Archived from the original on 2009-08-07. Retrieved 2009-08-06.
  13. ^ Debra Black (May 21, 2007). "Where is Bashir Makhtal?". Toronto Star. Archived from the original on 2012-12-27.
  14. ^ "Ethiopian Canadian – Lawyer". CBC. April 11, 2007. Archived from the original on 2007-06-02. Retrieved 2007-06-13.
  15. ^ "8 terrorism suspects put on Ethiopian TV". Archived from the original on 2009-09-30. Retrieved 2009-05-13.
  16. ^ "Kenya deports Somalis without trial". Al Jazeera. February 16, 2007. Archived from the original on April 3, 2007. Retrieved 2007-11-29.
  17. ^ "Lawsuit aims to compel Ethiopia to release Canadian". Archived from the original on 2009-08-08. Retrieved 2009-08-06.
  18. ^ ""Ethiopia strikes down appeal by imprisoned Canadian - Ottawa prepared to help after terror conviction, life sentence upheld"". Archived from the original on 2012-10-19. Retrieved 2017-08-24.
  19. ^ "Canadian citizen arrives back in Canada after 11 years in Ethiopian prison". Toronto Star. 21 April 2018. Archived from the original on 22 April 2018. Retrieved 22 April 2018.
  20. ^ "Amnesty International Welcomes Canadian Citizen Bashir Makhtal's Release from Ethiopian Prison and Return to Canada". amnesty.ca. Archived from the original on 23 April 2018. Retrieved 22 April 2018.
  21. ^ Sgro, Judy, Liberal Party of Canada, Hansard: 39: 2d Session Archived 2011-06-04 at the Wayback Machine, June 19, 2008
  22. ^ "Canadian Held in Ethiopia Could Face Death Penalty". Somali Herald. 2008-06-07. Archived from the original on 2008-12-04. Retrieved 2008-07-29. mirror
  23. ^ "Canadian in Ethiopia terror case". BBC News. March 19, 2009. Archived from the original on March 22, 2009. Retrieved April 26, 2010.
  24. ^ ONLF and "Terrorism double standards" Archived December 30, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  25. ^ "Concerns of double standards with Makhtal case". Archived from the original on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2009-05-14.
  26. ^ "concerns of double standards with Makhtal case". Archived from the original on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2009-05-14.
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