Bashir Ahmed Makhtal (Somali: Bashiir Axmed Makhtal; born 1977) 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]
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]
^Thomas Walkom (June 14, 2007). "Double standard for Canadians in trouble abroad". Toronto Star. Archived from the original on 2011-06-07. 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.
