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Write Government to Return Omar Khadr to Canada
Thursday, July 17, 2008 2:06 pm
WRITE GOVERNMENT TO RETURN OMAR KHADR TO CANADA
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(Ottawa, Canada - July 17, 2008) The Canadian Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-CAN) calls upon all Canadians to urge the Conservative government to initiate and expedite Omar Khadr's return to Canada. Toronto-born Khadr has been held in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, for six years. He was 15 when arrested by the Americans in an Afghan military campaign.
On Tuesday, Khadr's defence lawyers released an unsettling and disturbing video showing Khadr's interrogation by Canadian officials in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. (To watch clips of the video click here.
The full-length video shows Khadr first trusting Canadian officials. On the second day, after realizing that Canadian interrogators were not going to help bring him back to Canada, he became distraught. Khadr started crying, pulling down his orange jump suit and showing the wounds which nearly killed him six months earlier.
As a result of the video's release there has been renewed concern about Omar Khadr's treatment at Guantanamo Bay. All three opposition parties – the Liberals, the NDP and the Bloc – have called upon the Conservative government to repatriate Omar Khadr, so that he can be tried in Canadian courts, in an open and transparent manner.
The Conservative government is still refusing to secure his release from Guantanamo Bay, even though the U.S. Supreme Court has thrice ruled that detention at Guantanamo violates the American Constitution.
The Canadian government continues to support the U.S. military commissions system under which Khadr is being tried. U.S. military commissions, as established by the U.S. Military Commissions Act, are viewed by human rights experts as existing outside of international law.
For more information see:
CBC - 'You don't care about me,' Omar Khadr sobs in interview tapes
Globe and Mail - Family's lawyers working court of Canadian public opinion
ACTION REQUESTED
1. EMAIL Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Foreign Affairs Minister David Emerson, Secretary of State (Foreign Affairs) Deepak Obhrai, Justice Minister Rob Nicholson, and Public Safety Minister Stockwell Day expressing your concerns on Omar Khadr.
To: Harper.S@parl.gc.ca, Emerson.D@parl.gc.ca, Obhrai.D@parl.gc.ca, Nicholson.R@parl.gc.ca, Day.S@parl.gc.ca
Please c.c. opposition party leaders and foreign affairs critics at:
c.c. DionS@parl.gc.ca, Layton.J@parl.gc.ca, Duceppe.G@parl.gc.ca, Rae.B@parl.gc.ca, Dewar.P@parl.gc.ca, CreteP@parl.gc.ca
Also, please c.c. CAIR-CAN at:
c.c. infoATcaircan.ca
2. CALL the offices of Prime Minister Steven Harper, Foreign Affairs Minister David Emerson, Secretary of State (Foreign Affairs) Deepak Obhrai, Justice Minister Rob Nicholson, and Public Safety Minister Stockwell Day expressing your concerns on Omar Khadr.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper – tel. (613) 992-4211
Minister of Foreign Affairs David Emerson – tel. (613) 943-0267
Secretary of State (Foreign Affairs) Deepak Obhrai – tel. 613) 947-4566
Justice Minister Rob Nicholson – tel. (613) 995-1547
Public Safety Minister Stockwell Day – tel. (613) 995-1702
TALKING POINTS (Be FIRM but POLITE)
1. Canadian government must call for the immediate repatriation of Omar Khadr. We are the only developed democracy with one of its citizens still being held at Guantanamo. British and Australian governments have successfully repatriated their nationals. Canada must follow their lead.
2. Under the Geneva Conventions Omar Khadr is a child soldier, and should be brought back to Canada for rehabilitation and reintegration into Canadian society.
3. Omar Khadr has been mistreated at the hands of the Americans by being subject to their "the frequent flyer program," enduring 21 straight days of sleep deprivation. Canada cannot allow its citizens to be held under these conditions.
4. Canada should call for Guantanamo Bay to be shut down. This call has been made by both U.S. presidential candidates - Barack Obama and John McCain. The Canadian federal court in 2005 also said that the "conditions at Guantanamo Bay do not meet Charter standards."
5. Feel free to add points of your own.
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