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]

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]

• Human rights in Ethiopia
• Ogaden National Liberation Front