Press Release
Don Valley West M.P. Says the Prime Minister Must Call on the U.S. to Release Omar Khadr Immediately from Guantanamo Bay
Date: February 12, 2009
For Release: Immediate
Rob Oliphant, Member of Parliament for Don Valley West, welcomed the recent letter to President Barack Obama and Prime Minister Harper which was signed by Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff and the other opposition leaders. “This letter appeals to President Obama for the immediate release of Canadian Omar Khadr from detention at Guantanamo Bay; “something our party has been calling on for far too long” said Mr. Oliphant. “We have heard nothing but silence from Mr. Harper since the announcement on January 21 by President Obama to temporarily adjourn Mr. Khadr’s case for 120 days. This is simply not acceptable” he added.
The letter to President Obama and Prime Minister Harper states:
We the undersigned as Leaders of the opposition parties of Canada, comprising the majority of the seats in the Canadian Parliament collectively call on both of your governments to act immediately to release Omar Khadr from detention at Guantanamo Bay and repatriate him to Canada.
Mr. Khadr is a 22 year-old Canadian citizen, detained by the United States since the age of 15. It appears from evidence that Mr. Khadr was taken from Canada as a child, and unlawfully recruited and used as a child soldier in the armed conflict in Afghanistan in 2002. Significant ambiguity exists as to what role he played in connection with the conflict and whether he is guilty of any criminal misconduct. It is unequivocal that the previous U.S. administration disregarded his status as a child soldier. It is also clear that Mr. Khadr has been subjected to condition of confinement and interrogation that Canadian courts have found violate international prohibitions against toruture and other forms of cruel, inhumane, and degrading treatment.
We recognize that the current U.S. administration is in the process of evaluating the situation at Guantanamo Bay with a view to correcting possible past injustices. We conclude, however, that in view of Mr. Khadr’s unique circumstances, it is no longer appropriate to allow Mr. Khadr to be detained by the United States. The interests of justice require acknowledgement of his status as a child soldier, his release from Guantanamo Bay, and his prompt return to Canada to be dealt with in accordance with Canadian Law.
Accordingly, we the undersigned call upon President Obama and Prime Minister Harper as follows:
- We call upon President Obama to acknowledge Omar Khadr’s status as a child soldier (protected as such by the Child Soldier Protocol), promptly release him Guantanamo Bay, and repatriate him to Canada;
- We call upon Prime Minister Harper to cooperate in these efforts and ensure that appropriate arrangements are made through the provincial government of Ontario and appropriate members of civil society to provide for Mr. Khadr’s supervision and reintegration into the community upon his return to Canada:
- We call upon President Obama to transfer available evidence of any criminal misconduct on the part of Mr. Khadr to the possession of the Canadian government for investigation and evaluation, and, if appropriate in light of the evidence and other circumstances, initiation of criminal proceedings for the commission of any offense or offenses under Canadian law by the Director of Public Prosecutions.
We note that you are both scheduled to meet in Ottawa on February 19, 2009. This will provide an opportunity to begin a constructive dialogue that will rapidly lead to coordination between the two governments necessary to implement these requests. Such action is imperative to the restoration and maintenance of both nations’ commitment to the rule of law and to the implementation of the will of the majority of the Canadian people.
We send this letter in a spirit of cooperation and anticipate your prompt and constructive action on this matter.
“Mr. Ignatieff now calls on Mr. Harper to join the opposition in this appeal and to do the right thing” Oliphant continues, “We have never been so close to correcting the injustice done to Mr. Khadr but this simply will not be possible without Mr. Harper’s commitment, and that is something of which we are all still unsure.”
Before his election to parliament, Mr. Oliphant advocated on Mr. Khadr’s behalf in Don Valley West. He continues to be very vocal about Mr. Khadr’s repatriation, as he sees this as a matter of human rights; something he says a Canadian should never be denied.
-30-
Contact:
Mazhar Shafiq, Communications Assistant
Office of Rob Oliphant, M.P.
416-467-7275
