makhtal.org

PRESS RELEASE: Ethiopia – IHRC condemns sentencing of Canadian citizen today in Ethiopian high court

The Islamic Human Rights Commission condemns today’s sentencing of Ethiopian-born Canadian citizen Bashir Ahmed Makhtal in Ethiopia’s high court. Makhtal was awarded a life-sentence for his alleged membership to the ONLF (Ogaden National Liberation Front), a group which is fighting for autonomy in Ethiopia’s Eastern Ogaden region[1]. Makhtal has fervently denied this charge, at one point telling the court, “in fact, I am the victim of the ONLF”. IHRC is deeply concerned over the trial’s numerous and grave irregularities, which would fail to meet even the most minimum of international human rights standards.