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Ottawa Must Seek Khadr's Repatriation, Court Rules
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by Barbara McPherson | August 14, 2009 at 09:06 am
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The federal appeals court has denied an appeal by the Harper government and upheld the ruling that Ottawa must seek Omar Khadr's repatriation to Canada. Omar Khadr, now 22 years old, was apprehended by American forces in Afghanistan when he was 14. He was accused of throwing a grenade that killed an American medic and has been held in Guantanamo Prison Camp in Cuba.
In its April decision, the court ruled the Conservative government must ask the U.S. to return Khadr "as soon as practicable."
Prime Minister Stephen Harper has earlier said it is not Canada's place to meddle in another country's affairs, and he planned to wait to see what U.S. President Barack Obama does in the case.
Documents show Khadr has been threatened with rape, kept in isolation and intentionally deprived of sleep by his U.S. captors.
Omar Khadr is the only Western prisoner remaining at Guantanamo Prison Camp. Controversy swirls around Omar Khadr because of the age at which he was imprisoned. His age would indicate that he fits the definition of child soldier and should not be incarcerated with men in a prison camp. On the other hand, people have pointed out his family's close links with the known terrorist Osama bin Ladin.
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mafoloko d.
nyc, paris, london, lagos, rance, uk,,
CJaye
Virginia Beach, Virginia, United States
Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (3)
at 13:12 on August 14th, 2009
Just great! We welcome home a terrorist who killed one of our allied soldiers. I hope our military men and women find him and have a chat with this puke!
at 05:58 on August 16th, 2009
Thanks for taking the time to read and comment about Omar Khadr. I think that we have to apply the rule of law to this case. Firstly, our system and the US system presumes innocence until proven guilty. Secondly, both countries subscribe to a trial within a reasonable time and seven years without a charge is not reasonable. Torture is not reasonable. The US is signatory to an agreement that child soldiers are not to be treated like adults even when the crimes are horrendous and without doubt. The evidence presented in the Khadr case has been compromised by conflicting testimony. It would appear that a fair trial for Omar Khadr is not possible at this point anywhere in N. America as you and many who watch Fox Network have pre-judged his involvement. It's time to bring Omar Khadr, Canadian citizen back to Canada.
at 15:38 on August 14th, 2009
We have to go from the assumption that the US will even release him. He is presently awaiting a military tribunal. We shall see what happens when the Federal Gov comments on the court order. So far the only people released from Gitmo are those that haven't been charged.