In an interview in prison, Mr. Birhanie said the police are persecuting him for comments he made at a meeting in Toronto six years ago. It also recommends compensation be paid to Mr. Birhanie for the “physical and psychological trauma” he suffered. A spokesperson for Ethiopia’s Foreign Affairs Ministry, Nebiat Getachew, said he was unaware of the case of the imprisoned Canadian. Mr. Birhanie said the Canadian embassy in Addis Ababa sent officials to assist him in detention and sought to halt the beatings by police. “Global Affairs Canada is aware of a Canadian citizen detained in Ethiopia,” said Thida Ith, a spokesperson for the department.

Source: Ethiopian News March 26, 2026 20:14 UTC