An Ethiopian court upheld the life sentence Friday of a Canadian man imprisoned on terrorism charges and now his family fears he will now die behind bars.

The Federal Supreme Court of Ethiopia upheld the conviction and life sentence for Bashir Makhtal, an ethnic Somali in his 40s, who was charged with being a senior member of a separatist group, inciting rebellion and supporting Islamic militants in Somalia.

Makhtal's family in Canada is now calling on the federal government to intervene and free him because they fear he will be tortured to death in Ethiopia.

"We will never see him again . . . Bashir will rot in there . . . the next thing you will hear is that he is dead," said Said Maktal, Bashir Makhtal's cousin. "If my country abandons my cousin, a Canadian citizen, who else is going to help?"

In an email to Said Maktal Friday, Bashir Makhtal's Ethiopian lawyer wrote there were still two faint hope options available, including applying for a pardon or to a court that reviews fundamental errors of law. "Keep your hope alive. There are still ways, no matter how bumpy," wrote lawyer Gebreamlak Gebregiorgis Tekle.

Said Maktal said a news conference was planned for next week in Ottawa to publicly call on the federal government to help.

Family members say the government has pledged to work on the case and Transport MinisterJohn Baird has personally met with Said Maktal.

Said Maktal said his cousin was a casualty of persecution by the Ethiopian government against the family. He said the government had targeted them.