OMAR KHADR & HUMAN RIGHTS NEWS |
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U.S. looks for way to return Khadr, National Post, March 8, 2010 Officials in the Obama administration are quietly seeking a way to repatriate Canadian-born terror suspect Omar Khadr, an authority in a position to know has confided to Canwest News Service. "They don't have the stomach to try a child for war crimes," said the source, who declined to be identified because of the sensitive nature of such a U.S. bid. US weighs Guantanamo inmate's return to Canada: report, AFP, March 8, 2010 The US government is quietly seeking a way to repatriate the youngest Guantanamo inmate, Canadian Omar Khadr, local media said Monday. Ignoring Supreme Court's Khadr ruling, Ottawa won't request repatriation, Globe and Mail, Feburary 4, 2010 Mere days after the Supreme Court of Canada denounced the federal government for breaching terror suspect Omar Khadr's rights, the government has called its bluff. - - - - - - - - SUPREME COURT RELEASES DECISION IN PRIME MINISTER v. OMAR KHDR: Court refuses to order Khadr home, Toronto Star, January 29, 2010 Supreme Court won't force Ottawa to repatriate Khadr, National Post, January 29, 2010 Canada violated Guantanamo detainee's rights, Court finds, New York Times, January 29, 2010 Canada 'not obliged to help Guantanamo man', BBC News, January 29, 2010 Canada 'need not help detainee', Al Jazeera English, January 29, 2010
- - - - - - - - Top court to decide if Feds must seek Khadr's return , CTV News, January 29, 2010 Toronto-born Omar Khadr will findout Friday whether the Harper government has a legal obligation to seek hisreturn from a U.S. military prison. [....] Khadr's captors threatened him withrape, isolated the young Canadian and deprived him of sleep by moving him fromcell to cell -- a practice known as the "frequent flyer program." Khadr may or may not be tried, convicted in Canada: Experts, The Windsor Star, January 27, 2010
There has been a growing consensus that the Canadian detainee would not faceprosecution upon return to his birth country, but that he would be put undersurveillance, possibly by wearing an electronic tracking bracelet or beingwatched by the Canadian Security Intelligence Service or the RCMP Tainted trial for Khadr , Editorial, Toronto Star, 16 November 2009 Canadians should be appalled that five Al Qaeda suspects in the 9/11 mass murder of nearly 3,000 people in New York will get a fair trial in U.S. civilian court, while a Canadian, Omar Khadr, will stand trial before a tainted military panel for allegedly killing a U.S. soldier in Afghanistan when he was 15. Federal Court Prosecution of 9/11 Suspects a Victory for Justice, Human Rights Watch, 13 November 2009 Human Rights Watch said that today's announcement to transfer five cases to federal courts was diminished by the administration's decision to keep other pending cases [including Omar Khadr's] before military commissions, providing substandard justice. ... "Why would the Obama administration attempt to revive discredited military commissions by trying a child soldier?" Mariner said. "They should not be trying anyone before military commissions." U.S. opens door to Omar Khadr's return, Toronto Star, 13 November 2009
In a milestone decision marking a crucial step in the windingdown of the Guantanamo Bay detention facility, Holder also revealed that Canadian detainee Omar Khadr will be prosecuted before a U.S. military tribunal– but the attorney general indicated the U.S. government will remain open tothe possibility of returning detainee Omar Khadr to Canada, depending on theoutcome of a Supreme Court hearing underway today in Ottawa. Khadr to face U.S. military tribunal, Globe and Mail, 13 November 2009 Canadian Omar Khadr, the last westerner left in Guantanamo Bay, will face trial by military tribunal unlike the high-profile Sept 11, 2001, attacks plotters who will be brought to New York for trial in a civilian courts where they have far greater rights and protections, U.S. officials announced Friday. Mr. Khadr's lawyer Barry Coburn, accused the administration of resorting to Bush-era injustice. Khadr to face U.S. Military Commission , CBC News, 13 November 2009 A U.S. military commission willresume hearing the case against Omar Khadr, the U.S. Department of Justiceannounced Friday, the same day the Supreme Court of Canada heard a federalgovernment appeal in his case. [...] Asked whether that meant the government would ignore the SupremeCourt's decision if it rules against it, [Conservative MP Pierre ] Poilievrerepeated that Khadr's fate should be decided by an elected government and notthe courts. Omar Khadr case cost Ottawa $1.3 million, Toronto Star, 29 October 2009 Ottawa has spent more than $1.3-million fighting against Toronto-born captive Omar Khadr, who has been held at the U.S.-run Guantanamo Bay detention centre for seven years, the government has revealed. Omar Khadr 'innocent' in death of U.S. soldier, Toronto Star, 28 October 2009 Guantanamo detainee Omar Khadr was buried face down under rubble, blinded by shrapnel and crippled, at the time the Pentagon alleges he threw a grenade that fatally wounded a U.S. soldier, according to classified photographs and defence documents obtained by the Star. Ottawa's refusal to take Gitmo inmates irks US, Toronto Star, 11 October 2009 An apparent snub by the Canadian government has dismayed officials on the Obama administration's task force who are working to resettle dozens of detainees here and close the prison, a high-ranking administration source told the Star. Ottawa's Khadr appeal stains Canada's rights reputation, critics charge, Globe and Mail, 26 August 2009 Amnesty International and federal opposition parties are strongly condemning the Harper government's decision to take the Omar Khadr case to the Supreme Court, warning the move will further stain Canada's international reputation when it comes to defending human rights. Ottawa takes Khadr ruling fight to Supreme Court , CBC, 24 August 2009 The federal government has opted to fight a Federal Court of Appeal decision upholding the previous the Federal Court ruling which had required the government to seek Omar Khadr's repatriation. As a corollary, the Department of Justice has filed a motion for a stay of the Court of Appeal decision pending a Supreme Court of Canada appeal. It still remains for the Supreme Court to determine whether or not it will hear the case. Report slaps CSIS over Khadr Toronto Star, 15 July 2009 A report released by the Security Intelligence Review Committee, an independent body charged with reviewing CSIS operations, has criticized Canada's spy agency for failing to take Omar Khadr's age into account before interrogating him, as well as ignoring allegations of widespread human rights violations at Guantanamo. SIRC Chair Gary Filmon advises that it may be time for CSIS to undertake "a fundamental reassessment of how it carries out its work." Read the SIRC report here. Ottawa appeals Khadr court ruling, CBC, 23 June 2009 In an unsurprising, but disheartening turn of events, government lawyers have opted to appeal a recent Federal Court ruling requiring the government to seek and facilitate Omar Khadr's repatriation. The Federal lawyer arguing the case has insisted that: if the government owes a duty to Khadr it has not been breached, and any "interference" by the courts would be "tantamount to dictating foreign policy". Is it time to bring Khadr home, too? Toronto Star, 19 June 2009
All in the family, Editorial, Ottawa Citizen, 8 June 2009 When a Canadian child needs help somewhere in the world, does the federal government have an obligation to step up? Many Canadians would say yes. But the Canadian government argues that it does not. Feds fight Khadr decision, Canwest, 3 June 2009 Canada's legal duty to protect its citizens, even children, ends at theborder and there is nothing in domestic or international law thatobliges the government to seek Omar Khadr's repatriation, say federalarguments filed in court. ... The written arguments were submitted to the Federal Court of Appeal forthe government's challenge to a landmark April ruling that orderedCanada to seek repatriation of a citizen held by a foreign power. Ahearing is scheduled on June 23. Khadr asks Gitmo judge to fire U.S. lawyers, Toronto Star, 1 June 2009 Canadian detainee Omar Khadr told a war crimes court he no longertrusts his Pentagon-appointed lawyers after months of watching themfight in front of him. ... Khadr told Parrish he wanted to consult with his Canadian lawyers —neither of whom were at Monday's hearing. The Canadian government alsodid not send a representative here this week as they have for pasthearings. ... It ended after Parrish forced Khadr to choose between Kuebler and Ruiz.... He eventually settled on Kuebler, who will stay on the case until theJuly hearing, giving Khadr time to seek guidance from his Canadianlawyers. US plan hearing to resolve dispute with Khadr's lawyer, Toronto Star, 26 May 2009 The U.S. military is planning a tribunal session at Guantanamo Baynext week to resolve an internal dispute involving the attorney forCanadian detainee Omar Khadr, the lawyer said Tuesday. Navy Lt. Cmdr. William Kuebler, who was recently fired and then reinstated... Guantanamo will be closed, Obama insists, Globe and Mail, 23 May 2009 The President, facing mounting pressure to keep al-Qaeda operatives outof the United States, offered no timetable and did not indicate howmany of the 250 remaining prisoners held at the U.S. naval station inCuba might come to the United States. Obama loses Senate vote on detainee transfers, National Post, 21 May 2009 Members of Barack Obama's party helped bring about a crushing U. S.Senate defeat for him yesterday as they voted against transferringterror suspects held in Guantanamo Bay to the United States. Obama to revive terror tribunals, Globe and Mail, 20 May 2009 U.S. President Barack Obama willrestart military tribunals for a small number of Guantanamo detainees,reviving a fiercely disputed trial system he once denounced but withnew legal protections for terror suspects, U.S. officials said Thursday. ... It is unknown how Canadian detainee Omar Khadr may be affected by the new policy. Repatriate 'child soldiers' at Gitmo, U.K. groups urge, Globe and Mail, 14 May 2009 The continued imprisonment atGuantanamo Bay of former child soldiers - including Canadian Omar Khadr- flouts international law, fives British legal associations saidyesterday in a joint letter... Ottawa appeals court order to bring Khadr home, Globe and Mail, 8 May 2009 Officials confirmed today that Ottawa has filed an appeal of aFederal Court ruling that it seek the return of Mr. Khadr from the U.S.military prison in Guantanamo, Cuba. Judge James O'Reilly ruled last month that the Conservativegovernment's refusal to demand repatriation of Mr. Khadr offendsfundamental justice. U.S. considers keeping Guantanamo court system open, CBC, 2 May 2009 Almost immediately after taking office, Obama suspended the tribunalsystem and ordered a 120-day review of the cases against the 241 men —including Canadian Omar Khadr — being held at the navy prison in Cuba.That review was supposed to end May 20. But two U.S. officials saidSaturday the administration wants a three-month extension. ... Now, faced with looming deadlines and few answers for where to transferthe detainees, the Obama administration may keep the tribunal system —with a few changes. Military lawyers: Release Gitmo youths, CBS News, 30 April 2009 Military lawyers for two young Guantanamo detainees urged the UnitedStates on Wednesday to follow the legally binding protocols it signedin 2002 on child soldiers and release the juveniles now being held atthe U.S. military prison in Cuba. ... [U.S. Navy Cmdr. Walter] Ruiz represents Omar Khadr... Khadr was the subject of a 60 Minutes story in 2007, in which Bob Simon examined the teenager's unique status as the only minor in modern history to face war crimes charges. Omar Khadr back in court on June 1, Canwest, 28 April 2009 Omar Khadr will return to a Guantanamo Bay military court on June 1, the judge in the case ruled Tuesday. ButU.S. government officials could nix that date if they seek more time tocomplete a review President Barack Obama ordered the day he enteredoffice of all proceedings against terror suspects held at the U.S.naval base in Cuba. Judge Patrick Parrish, an army colonel, chose a date that closely follows the expiration of the 120-day suspension. Khadr capers kaput: Column, Toronto Sun & related Sun Media, 28 April 2009 Stephen Harper and his genius team have been caught with knuckles infull drag, apparently determined to make kiddie soldier Omar Khadr thelast prisoner of Guantanamo. ... Foreign Affairs Minister Lawrence Cannon (no doubt underorders from the Prime Minister's Office) announced the government wouldprobably appeal the ruling. Dumb fairly describes the concept. Harper's unwise Khadr stonewall: Editorial, Toronto Star, 26 April 2009 The Prime Minister has painted himself into a corner on this case.Justice O'Reilly has opened a door. Harper should walk through it. Bring Khadr Home: Editorial, National Post, 25 April 2009 On Thursday, Federal Court Justice James O'Reilly ruled that thefederal government had violated Mr. Khadr's rights by abandoning him toGuantanamo, and ordered Ottawa to seek his return to Canada. PrimeMinister Stephen Harper said the government may appeal, reiterating hisposition that Mr. Khadr remains subject to legal proceedings in theUnited States that should be allowed to run their course. The Prime Minister has used this excuse before. It no longer holds water. Tories flip-flop on Khadr appeal, Globe and Mail, 24 April 2009 Conservative government officials contradicted themselves on the OmarKhadr file Friday, with Canada's Foreign Affairs Minister tellingParliament that Ottawa will appeal a court decision ordering thegovernment to attempt to bring the detained Canadian home, and theminister's assistant contradicting him only hours later. Canadian Bar Association calls for repatriation of Omar Khadr, 24 April 2009 In light of Thursday’s Federal Court decision directing the government of Canada to request the return of Omar Khadr, CanadianBar Association President Guy Joubert has written to both PrimeMinister Stephen Harper and U.S. President Barack Obama urging them tohelp facilitate the repatriation of Mr. Khadr. PM must press U.S. for Khadr's return, court rules, CBC, 23 April 2009 Prime Minister Stephen Harper is required to press the United Statesfor the return of Omar Khadr to Canada to "comply with a principle offundamental justice," a Federal Court judge ruled Thursday. Unmoved, Harper said the government may try to overturn the judge'sdecision."The facts, in our judgment, have not changed," he told MPsduringquestion period. "We will be looking at the decision very carefullyand, obviously, considering an appeal." New Federal Court decision: Canada ordered to seek repatriation , 23 April 2009 "I am satisfied, in the special circumstances of this case, that Mr. Khadr's rights under s.7 of the Charter have been infringed. I will grant his request for an order requiring the respondents to seek his repatriation from the United States."
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