A Canadian who says he was unfairly imprisoned in Ethiopia in abysmal conditions for more than a decade wants an independent review of Ottawa’s actions in his case.
Ethiopian-born Bashir Makhtal tells a news conference today there were mistakes and lost opportunities in Canada’s efforts to protect him over the years.
Makhtal settled in Canada as a refugee in 1991 and later moved to Kenya, opening a used-clothing business.
He was working in Somalia when Ethiopian troops invaded in late 2006.
WATCH: Canadian man jailed in Ethiopian prison details ‘torture’, his trial and next steps after release
Makhtal fled back to Kenya, but was detained along with several others at the Kenya-Somalia border.
He was later convicted of terrorism-related charges in Addis Ababa – proceedings his lawyer considers a kangaroo court that ignored important evidence.
WATCH: Other stories of Canadians imprisoned overseas