Date: February 1st, 2010 - Safar 17, 1431 Volume: 13 Issue: 3
February 1, 2010
CANADIAN ISLAMIC CONGRESS URGES CANADIAN GOVERNMENT TO HONOR OMAR KHADR’S CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS AND BRING HIM HOME
On January 29, 2010, the Supreme Court of Canada issued a ruling on Omar Khadr, following the Harper government’s appeal of a lower court decision that had demanded Mr. Khadr’s repatriation and that he be given the right of due judicial process in Canada.
While Friday’s Supreme Court ruling refrained from ordering the government to seek repatriation for Khadr, it noted that his constitutional rights as a Canadian citizen had been violated by long detention at the U.S. Guantanamo Bay military prison; that the actions (and inactions) of Canada’s federal government have wronged one of our own citizens; and that steps must be taken to correct such injustice.
Since the next logical step in response to any of those recommendations is to physically bring Omar Khadr home without delay, the stance of Canada’s highest court has sparked confusion among many following this case.
Omar Khadr's lawyer Nathan Whitling described this latest ruling as "the end of the legal road" for Mr. Khadr’s hopes of returning to Canada and that the legal team will now focus on helping him through a military trial in the United States, slated for July. Whitling predicted that the Conservative government will continue to ignore the charter of rights violation noted by the Supreme Court and refuse to ask American authorities to repatriate Toronto-born Khadr, the only remaining Westerner at Guantanamo Bay.
Mrs. Valiante added that her organization "now fears that this government will drag out the situation further still by engaging in long unproductive diplomatic ‘talks’ with the U.S. over Omar Khadr’s repatriation. And we at the CIC know from previous experience that endless, empty talk is ALL that Ottawa will do for this abandoned Canadian citizen. Once again, therefore, we urge that the federal government take actions that are more in line with Mr. Khadr’s guaranteed constitutional and charter rights, just as the Supreme Court recommended."
She added, "CIC firmly holds that regardless of any allegations -- proven or unproven -- against Omar Khadr, he is entitled to Canadian repatriation, due legal process, justice, and rehabilitation into society. This is the only humane way to treat child soldiers - who are true victims of war. Our failure to bring him back to Canada violates our obligations under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms as well as the Geneva Convention. Whether we like it or not, Omar Khadr is a Canadian citizen."
Imam Dr. Zijad Delic, CIC’s National Executive Director, concluded: "Canada, a country historically known for upholding fairness at home and abroad, a country whose liberal Youth Criminal Justice act has become a model for reform in many jurisdictions, has been the only Western nation to give the U.S. unconditional authority over one of its nationals, being held at Guantanamo Bay. Other countries -- including Britain, Australia, Sweden and Germany -- fought to bring home their citizens (all of whom are adults) from this infamous detention centre. How can our government lack the conscience to do likewise?"
CONTACTS:
Mrs. Wahida Valiante
National President of Canadian Islamic Congress (CIC)
647. 802.8024
Imam Dr. Zijad Delic
National Executive Director, Canadian Islamic Congress (CIC)
613.698.8469
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