An Ethiopian court has sentenced a Canadian man to life in prison on terrorism charges.The family of Bashir Makhtal told the Star this morning that the court has delivered his sentence but he would appeal.For two and a half years Makhtal, a Canadian citizen, has sat in a jail in Addis Ababa, professing his innocence against charges that he was involved in terrorist attacks against Ethiopia. An Ethiopian court convicted him last week and he could have faced the death penalty. Relatives said he was devastated by the verdict. "The only hope that I have now is the government of Canada," he told a relative in Addis Ababa who spoke to relatives here. "I don't see any fair treatment here and won't see any ... as long as I'm in their hands," he is reported to have said.Makhtal's Toronto lawyer Lorne Waldman called last week's decision a "travesty of justice" and the Ethiopian justice system a "kangaroo court." Makhtal's last hope is a "very forceful intervention by the Canadian government on his behalf, demanding that he be repatriated back to Canada, Waldman said. ..more..http://www.thestar.com/news/world/article/675544
Ethiopia jails Canadian ONLF rebel for life
http://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSL3363938
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