By: Robin de Peyer
Somalilandsun- Abdullahi Ibrahim, who was schizophrenic, died in police custody on the night of November 28, hours before he was due to stand trial for running over a police officer.
His daughter, Khadra Ibrahim, said she had faxed through medical records of his condition that night in an effort to ensure a fair hearing, and claims prison guards killed her 43-year-old father to ensure his punishment was “an eye for an eye”.
Mr Ibrahim, of Woodstock Terrace, had suffered from mental health problems since moving to London in the early 1990s. He had stopped taking his medication during a six month visit to Somaliland to administer his father’s estate, and was described by his family as “a very ill man”.
Bow resident Khadra, 26, said: “My father’s human rights have been violated and justice must be served for him.
“He was murdered by his own country’s government. I want to let the world know what they are doing. We want answers.”
She added that the father of eight had been a valued member of the community.
“He was such a lovely, lovely father – we couldn’t have asked for a better dad”, she said.
“He was the most caring person. Regardless of whether he was ill or not, he was the kindest man.”
Mr Ibrahim was buried in Somaliland, an autonomous region of Somalia, on Sunday. Foreign Office officials remain in discussions with the British Embassy in neighbouring Ethiopia in an effort to satisfy the family’s demands for justice.
A spokesperson said: “We can confirm the death of a British national in Somaliland and are providing constant assistance to family members through the British embassy in Addis Ababa.”
Foreign Office representatives are due to meet Mr Ibrahim’s family this week to update them on the progress of negotiations.
