Ottawa, ON – Alex Atamanenko, M.P., BC Southern Interior – On March 11, 2008 NDP Human Rights critic, Wayne Marston presented a Motion before the Subcommittee on Human Rights drawing attention to the detention and prosecution of Omar Khadr with the hopes the Canadian government will solicit the American government for the repatriation of one of it’s citizens.
Mr. Khadr, a Canadian born citizen has been held since the age of 15 as an enemy combatant in the United States Detention Facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. “At the time of his arrest Khadr was a child soldier, and as such, the Canadian government has a responsibility to ensure that he receives a fair trail in his home country”, said Atamanenko. “Mr. Khadr has not received fair process or justice during his almost six year incarceration. This is especially obvious when all other child soldiers from other nations, being held in either Afghanistan detention centres or at Guantanamo Bay’s centre have been released to their home countries”, stated the MP.
“The fact that Omar Khadr’s country has not given him the help that all Canadian citizens deserve is absolutely horrendous”, said the NDP Critic, Marston. This young man was a child soldier, he was shot in the back, arrested at the age of 15, has had to cope with what the American government calls, “enhanced interrogation techniques”, and now faces life in prison. “Why is the Canadian government not defending a Canadian citizen and abiding by the rules set forward by the UN Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, and bring this young man home?”, said the NDP Critic, Marston.
Mr. Khadr’s lawyer, U.S. Navy Lt. Commander William Kuebler, appeared before the Commons Subcommittee on April 28th where he appealed for Canada to save Mr. Khadr from a potential life sentence – The Conservative government was unmoved.
“It is a shame on our country when an American naval officer has to come to Canada to plead the case of a Canadian citizen”, concluded Atamanenko.
Now at 21 years of age, Khadr’s trail is scheduled to take place this June. Mr. Khadr was born on September 19, 1986 in Toronto, ON.
Tags: Omar Khadr