Rudwan Khalil Abubaker

Rudwan Khalil Abubaker (1978–2004)[1] was a Canadian independent film actor and amateur model from Vancouver, British Columbia, who was killed by Russian security forces in Chechnya on October 7, 2004.[2]

His family came to Canada from Eritrea as refugees with their four children.[3][4] Abubaker was accepted into Vancouver Community College to study information technology.[4] A member of the Dar al-Madinah Islamic Society Mosque in Vancouver,[5] He was a "gentle" man who loved soccer and hip hop music.[4][6] He had just finished the Hajj and visiting relatives in Dubai and was headed to a wedding in Azerbaijan with his friend Kamal Elbahja.[2][3][4]

I would like to see the Imams who send young people over to die charged.

— Phil Rankin, lawyer for Abubaker's family[7]

While in Dubai, Abubaker phoned his family to tell them that he was considering staying in the region to open a hip-hop storefront, and that Elbahja was going to head off to Russia.[4]

Abubaker's body was identified by his driver's license and Canadian passport,[5] which showed that he had been to London and Amsterdam.[8] When his family asked for his body, Russia refused stating that it had been buried where he fell.[3] Russia claims he was an explosives expert.[2] His family was represented by lawyer Phil Rankin, who had earlier defended Essam Marzouk during his application for refugee status.[4]