Canada's Supreme Court to hear Omar Khadr case today

by Karl Gotthardt - albertacowpoke | November 13, 2009 at 05:33 am

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Omar Khadr has been in US custody since his capture on the battlefield in Afghanistan in 2002. He is accused of murdering a US soldier. Omar Khadr was 15 at the time of his capture.

Human Rights advocates, including Amnesty International, have contended that it is the Canadian
Governments responsibility to repatriate Khadr to Canada. They also contend that he was a child soldier at the time of his capture.

The Canadian Government contends that asking the US to repatriate him would be meddling in the affairs of the United States. Khadr's family has ties with Al Quaeda and at one time even lived in a compound with Al Quaeda.

Omar Khadr is the only Western citizen still held in Guantanamo. A lower court had ordered the Canadian Government to attempt to repatriate Khadr. This ruling was upheld by a Federal Appeals court.

The Canadian Government appealed this ruling and now the case will be heard by the Supreme Court of Canada.

Omar Khadr is on a list of the 10 most dangerous terrorists in Guantanamo. The Administration may come up with a decision as early as to day on how to deal with them. President Obama signed an Execustive Order on his first day in office to close Guantanamo by January 22nd, 2010.

A decision has recently be made by the Administration to deal with 911 suspects in US Criminal courts only minutes away from Ground Zero in NYC. The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation reported this morning that Omar Khadr will face a military tribunal in the United States He on the list with four others, to be tried somewhere in the U.S.

Eric Holder the U.S. Attorney General announced this morning that Khalid Sheik Mohammed and four others would be tried in Federal Court in New York City. The venue will be just blocks away from Ground Zero.

He was asked about Omar Khadr and how he would be handled, if the Canadian Government was ordered to pursue his release. He was non-committal, other than saying that the file would be reviewed.

Omar Khadr is part of the five selected to be tried by Military Commissions.

The Supreme Court of Canada will begin hearing the case of Omar Khadr on Friday.

The federal government is appealing a Federal Appeal Court decision to uphold a lower-court ruling that required Ottawa to try to repatriate 23-year-old Khadr, the only Western citizen still being held by the United States at its Guantanamo Bay military base in Cuba.

Toronto-born Khadr was captured by U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan in 2002, when he was 15, and has been held at the Guantanamo Bay detention centre for seven years. The U.S. accuses him of throwing a grenade that killed U.S. soldier Christopher Speer, but leaked documents have called into question the Pentagon's murder case against Khadr.

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Uwe Paschen

at 06:16 on November 13th, 2009

It is about time I think.

Barry ORegan

at 07:05 on November 13th, 2009

I dont think Omar is one of the top 10 most dangerous terrorists, but I truly believe his Mother is at the Top of the List!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Omar_Khadr

Karl Gotthardt - albertacowpoke

at 07:10 on November 13th, 2009

I agree Barry, but it's the U.S. interpretation. The influence of his family would certainly be a consideration.

YankeeJim

at 07:54 on November 13th, 2009

Does this mean Canada has been harboring terrorists? OMG!

Karl Gotthardt - albertacowpoke

at 07:58 on November 13th, 2009

Be nice Jim:). PC rules supreme here too.

Barbara McPherson

at 09:21 on November 13th, 2009

An important development. Perhaps justice will finally be served. Children should not be punished for the sins of their fathers.

Karl Gotthardt - albertacowpoke

at 10:21 on November 13th, 2009

Thanks for your comments Barbara:)

michael w warren (not verified)

at 20:24 on November 13th, 2009

I MUST SAY THAT OMAR KHADR WAS NOT A CHILD AS HE WAS CERTAINLY OF AN AGE OF REASONING TO DISTINGUISH BETWEEN RIGHT AND WRONG AS WELL ACCORDING TO THE ISLAM OR CHRISTIAN THINKING. WITH THAT SAID,THE U.S ALSO HAS BY COURT RULING MADE CHILDREN AGE 12-17, EVEN YOUNGER I BELIEVE TO BE TRIED AS AN ADULT IN CAPITAL CASES. I SUPPORT MR. KHADR TO BE TRIED BY THE U.S........WHETHER HE IS NUMBER 1 OR 100 ON THE MOST DANGEROUS LIST. IF YOU BLAME THE FATHER THEN YOU MUST ALSO BLAME THAT SOCIETY ....