The idea that Omar Khadr isn’t being brought home to Canada because Canada’s Prime Minister has issues with the colour of his skin and his faith was an unsettling statement made by Canadian Islamic Congress President Mohamed Elmasry.
Racism is the least of Omar Khadr’s concerns and has nothing to do with his continued detention at Guantanamo Bay and prosecution by a U.S. military tribunal. Mr. Elmasry’s remarks were upsetting because using this term discredits real racism that is occurring today in Canada. Furthermore, leveling this accusation at Prime Minister Harper is wrong. Although I do not agree with the Prime Minister’s position on Mr. Khadr, he is not a racist - misguided may be a more appropriate word - but not a racist.
The waters must not be muddied or clouded by accusations of racism here. It distracts from the fact that there are clear reasons why our country should intervene in this case. First and foremost, Omar Khadr is a Canadian citizen and our country has an obligation to protect his human rights. He has been accused of a crime, but that does not negate citizenship or excuse our country from intervening.
Omar Khadr has been detained in Guantanamo Bay in violation of international human rights laws. Additionally, as a child solider he has rights under the Optional Protocol on the Rights of the Child. These are the fundamental reasons why the Canadian Government must negotiate for his repatriation from Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
We know the United States has failed to maintain judicial integrity and act impartially in all of Mr. Khadr’s judicial proceedings to date. He has the right to a fair and just trial and he will not get this from the U.S. These issues, coupled with the fact that he has been tortured at Guantanamo, have many Canadians at a loss to understand why our government has not intervened to bring him home to face justice under Canadian law.
I respectfully disagree with the Prime Minister’s reasoning, which appears to be a lack of faith in Canada’s justice system, for not intervening in this case. I believe Canada does have abilities within our justice system to deal with Mr. Khadr. If Canadian laws aren’t able to handle the workload, as a Parliamentarian, I believe it is our duty to address their shortcomings and make them better.
Faith and race have no place in this debate – This is about the protection of the human rights of a Canadian Citizen, no different from you and I.
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