A Canadian citizen imprisoned in Ethiopia for more than 11 years has returned to Toronto after a gruelling campaign by his family and an international human rights groups to free him. Amnesty International called the charges against him "blatantly unfair" and said he was denied due process throughout his imprisonment. ​"This day has been so long in coming, we hardly are able to believe it is true," said Said Maktal, Bashir's cousin, in a statement released by Amnesty International on Saturday. According to Lorne Waldman, a prominent immigration lawyer in Toronto who helped in the effort to have Makhtal freed, the charges against him were unfounded. Gloria Nafziger, a rights campaigner with Amnesty International, said the ordeal has taken a tremendous and incalculable toll on the family.

Source: CBC News April 21, 2018 21:00 UTC