No Security Without Human Rights

Today marks the fifth anniversary of the rendition of Canadian citizen Bashir Makhtal from Kenya to Ethiopia.  He remains imprisoned in Ethiopia, having been sentenced to a life prison sentence following a trial and appeal that fell far below international human rights requirements.  It is obviously a somber and unhappy anniversary for Mr. Makhtal, his wife and cousin here in Canada, and other family members, many of whom are themselves in situations of danger and hardship.

At such a time, Prime Minister, we look to you to become personally and directly involved in the effort to ensure Mr. Makhtal’s rights are respected.  Through your own personal communication with Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi and through the efforts of a personal envoy we urge you to appoint, it is vital that you make it clear that the Canadian government – and you personally – expect and demand that Mr. Makhtal be immediately released from prison and allowed to leave Ethiopia unless authorities bring him to trial in proceedings that do meet international fair trial standards.

Prime Minister, we have written to you with this same request several times over the past three years. This included a letter written jointly with the Canadian Council on American-Islamic Relations in June 2010 urging that you take advantage of Prime Minister Meles Zenawi’s presence in Canada at that time to attend the G20 Summit, as an opportunity to raise the case with him directly and forcefully.  In fact, thousands of Canadians have written or signed petitions, asking you to become directly involved in Mr. Makhtal’s case. 

We have certainly noted and welcomed the efforts of Canadian consular, diplomatic and Ministerial officials on Mr. Makhtal’s behalf, particularly Minister Baird both before and since he has become Minister of Foreign Affairs.  It has become distressingly obvious, however, that those interventions have not persuaded Ethiopian officials to act to uphold Mr. Makhtal’s rights.  Sadly and frankly there has been virtually no progress.  It is time for his case to be taken up at the highest levels of the Canadian/Ethiopian relationship. 
We have not yet received a reply from you to any of our earlier letters making this request; nor has Mr. Makhtal’s family had any communication from you about the case.  Previous letters and inquiries have been referred to the Minister of Foreign Affairs for response.  This time, marking this tragic fifth anniversary, we hope to hear from you directly, with confirmation that Mr. Makhtal’s case has become a priority for you and that you will be taking action.

Sincerely,
Alex Neve
Secretary General
Amnesty International Canada