Bashir Makhtal Explained

Bashir Makhtal
Birth Date:1977
Status:Freed

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]

Biography

Makhtal was born in Ethiopia to Somali parents, who had fled war-torn Somalia in 1972.[4] 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.[5] In 1994 he was granted Canadian citizenship, and was employed as a computer programmer by the Bank of Montreal and CIBC.[5]

In 2002, Makhtal travelled to the United Arab Emirates, from which he travelled to Djibouti, Kenya, Eritrea, and Somalia, selling clothing to support himself.[5] In 2006, after Ethiopia's militarily intervention in Somalia, Canadian Foreign Affairs advised Canadians in Somalia to flee the impending conflict. Makhtal flew to neighboring Kenya, but was arrested during the flight. After spending three weeks in Nairobi jail,[6] Makhtal was extraordinarily renditioned to the Ethiopian-backed government in Somalia, which extradited him to Ethiopia.[7] Makhtal was accused of being a member of the ONLF based on the prior membership of his grandfather,[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.[9] [10] 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.[11] Several reports claimed that Makhtal was tortured by interrogators while in prison,[12] [13] though the Ethiopian government denied this.[14] 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.[15] 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.[16] 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.[17]

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

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.[4] [20] 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.[21] [22] In February 2009, the Canadian government announced that it would seek Makhtal's release.[23]

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

Notes and References

  1. News: Double standard for Canadians in trouble abroad. June 14, 2007. Thomas Walkom. Thomas Walkom. Toronto Star. 2011-06-07. https://web.archive.org/web/20110607225557/http://www.thestar.com/News/article/225237. live. 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. News: Negotiations under way to bring imprisoned Bashir Makhtal back to Canada. Toronto Star. 2012-12-27. Debra Black. 2013-01-02. https://web.archive.org/web/20130102160802/http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/1307475--negotiations-under-way-to-bring-imprisoned-bashir-makhtal-back-to-canada. live .
  3. News: Call for action by Canada and Ethiopia on Canadian rendition case . . 2007-11-22 . 2007-11-29 . https://web.archive.org/web/20071125234358/http://www.amnesty.ca/resource_centre/news/view.php?load=arcview&article=4122&c=Resource+Centre+News . 25 November 2007 . dead .
  4. Web site: MacKay must intervene in case of Canadian held abroad: Bashir Makhtal case echoes those of Arar, Celil. New Democratic Party. Jack Layton. Jack Layton. January 24, 2007. 2007-11-29 . https://web.archive.org/web/20071114150447/http://www.ndp.ca/page/4794 . 2007-11-14 . dead .
  5. Friends and Family of Bashir Makhtal, Biography of Bashir Makhtal
  6. News: Family fears for deported man's life: Kin queried as Somali-Canadian held in Ethiopia. Toronto Star. Debra Black. February 4, 2007. 2007-11-29. 2011-07-07. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20110707064024/http://416-777-7777.com/Unassigned/article/178088.
  7. [CBC News|CBC]
  8. News: Why is PM forgetting Makhtal?. Toronto Star. Thomas Walkom. Thomas Walkom. November 29, 2007. 2007-11-29. https://web.archive.org/web/20071201060333/http://www.thestar.com/News/article/280891. 1 December 2007 . live.
  9. News: Canadian Ethiopian . . Lorne Waldman . Lorne Waldman . May 4, 2007 . 2007-11-29 . https://web.archive.org/web/20071120090743/http://www.cbc.ca/radioshows/AS_IT_HAPPENS/20070504.shtml . 2007-11-20 . dead .
  10. News: Bashir appears in Ethiopian court with lawyer . 19 March 2009 . 2009-05-13 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090322104218/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7952199.stm . 2009-03-22 . live .
  11. Web site: Canadian jailed for life . 2009-08-06 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090807120808/http://www.torontosun.com/news/canada/2009/08/04/10353946-sun.html . 2009-08-07 . live .
  12. News: Where is Bashir Makhtal?. May 21, 2007. Debra Black. Toronto Star. 2012-10-10. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20121010014411/http://www.thestar.com/News/article/216039.
  13. News: Ethiopian Canadian – Lawyer . April 11, 2007 . . 2007-06-13 . https://web.archive.org/web/20070602145251/http://www.cbc.ca/thecurrent/2007/200704/20070411.html . 2007-06-02 . dead .
  14. Web site: 8 terrorism suspects put on Ethiopian TV . 2009-05-13 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090930102757/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4176/is_20070412/ai_n19019166/ . 2009-09-30 . live .
  15. News: Kenya deports Somalis without trial . . February 16, 2007 . 2007-11-29 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20070403114641/http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/85278AF1-4DDD-4A6B-B5CB-56A1D60C1280.htm . April 3, 2007 .
  16. Web site: Lawsuit aims to compel Ethiopia to release Canadian . 2009-08-06 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090808140208/http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20090806/makhtal_090806/20090806?hub=Canada . 2009-08-08 . dead .
  17. Web site: "Ethiopia strikes down appeal by imprisoned Canadian - Ottawa prepared to help after terror conviction, life sentence upheld" . . 5 December 2009 . 2017-08-24 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121019092731/http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/734850--ethiopia-strikes-down-appeal-by-imprisoned-canadian . 2012-10-19 . live .
  18. News: Canadian citizen arrives back in Canada after 11 years in Ethiopian prison. 22 April 2018. Toronto Star. 21 April 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180422042603/https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2018/04/21/canadian-citizen-arrives-back-in-canada-after-11-years-in-ethiopian-prison.html. 22 April 2018. live. dmy-all.
  19. Web site: Amnesty International Welcomes Canadian Citizen Bashir Makhtal's Release from Ethiopian Prison and Return to Canada. amnesty.ca. 22 April 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180423102007/http://www.amnesty.ca/news/amnesty-international-welcomes-canadian-citizen-bashir-makhtal%E2%80%99s-release-ethiopian-prison-and. 23 April 2018. live. dmy-all.
  20. [Judy Sgro|Sgro, Judy]
  21. News: Canadian Held in Ethiopia Could Face Death Penalty . . 2008-06-07 . 2008-07-29 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20081204122143/http://www.somaliherald.com/artman/publish/printer_1457.shtml . 2008-12-04 . mirror
  22. News: Canadian in Ethiopia terror case . BBC News . March 19, 2009 . April 26, 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090322104218/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7952199.stm . March 22, 2009 . live . mdy-all .
  23. [Vancouver Sun]
  24. http://www.mfa.gov.et/Press_Section/Week_Horn_Africa_November_21_2008.htm ONLF and "Terrorism double standards"
  25. Web site: Concerns of double standards with Makhtal case . 2009-05-14 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160303191515/http://www.africanpath.com/p_blogEntry.cfm?blogID=75&blogEntryID=6941 . 2016-03-03 . live .
  26. Web site: concerns of double standards with Makhtal case . 2009-05-14 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160303191515/http://www.africanpath.com/p_blogEntry.cfm?blogID=75&blogEntryID=6941 . 2016-03-03 . live .

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Bashir Makhtal".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.