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Canada Apologizes and Pays Millions to Citizen Held at Guantánamo Bay Canada Apologizes and Pays Millions to Citizen Held at Guantánamo Bay
(about 13 hours later)
OTTAWA — The government of Canada on Friday formally apologized to Omar Khadr, the only Canadian imprisoned at the United States military base at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba. It also said that it had paid compensation to Mr. Khadr, a former child soldier, for violating his rights under Canadian law.OTTAWA — The government of Canada on Friday formally apologized to Omar Khadr, the only Canadian imprisoned at the United States military base at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba. It also said that it had paid compensation to Mr. Khadr, a former child soldier, for violating his rights under Canadian law.
“On behalf of the government of Canada, we wish to apologize to Mr. Khadr for any role Canadian officials played in relation to his ordeal abroad and any resulting harm,” the government said in its apology. “We hope that this expression, and the negotiated settlement, will assist him in his efforts to begin a new and hopeful chapter in his life.”“On behalf of the government of Canada, we wish to apologize to Mr. Khadr for any role Canadian officials played in relation to his ordeal abroad and any resulting harm,” the government said in its apology. “We hope that this expression, and the negotiated settlement, will assist him in his efforts to begin a new and hopeful chapter in his life.”
When he was captured by American troops in Afghanistan in 2002, Mr. Khadr, 15 years old at the time, was severely wounded. Later, at a military commission, he pleaded guilty to using a hand grenade to kill a member of the United States military during a battle. But Mr. Khadr and his lawyers subsequently said that he had made his plea to avoid being detained indefinitely.When he was captured by American troops in Afghanistan in 2002, Mr. Khadr, 15 years old at the time, was severely wounded. Later, at a military commission, he pleaded guilty to using a hand grenade to kill a member of the United States military during a battle. But Mr. Khadr and his lawyers subsequently said that he had made his plea to avoid being detained indefinitely.
A Liberal Party government was in office at the time of Mr. Khadr’s capture, but the subsequent Conservative government led by Stephen Harper, who was then prime minister, repeatedly characterized Mr. Khadr as a terrorist and made little effort to secure his release.A Liberal Party government was in office at the time of Mr. Khadr’s capture, but the subsequent Conservative government led by Stephen Harper, who was then prime minister, repeatedly characterized Mr. Khadr as a terrorist and made little effort to secure his release.
In 2010, the Supreme Court of Canada sternly rebuked the government. It found that the interrogation of Mr. Khadr by Canadian intelligence officials at Guantánamo “offends the most basic Canadian standards about the treatment of detained youth suspects.” Separately, another court, the Federal Court of Canada, also found that the Conservative government had violated Mr. Khadr’s rights by not actively seeking his return.In 2010, the Supreme Court of Canada sternly rebuked the government. It found that the interrogation of Mr. Khadr by Canadian intelligence officials at Guantánamo “offends the most basic Canadian standards about the treatment of detained youth suspects.” Separately, another court, the Federal Court of Canada, also found that the Conservative government had violated Mr. Khadr’s rights by not actively seeking his return.
Mr. Khadr has been a polarizing figure here. He was taken from Canada to Afghanistan by his father, Ahmed Said Khadr, who was thought by Canadian intelligence officials to have been associated with Osama bin Laden. The elder Mr. Khadr was eventually killed by government forces in Pakistan. Other members of his family also publicly offered inflammatory statements that many Canadians viewed as condoning terrorism.Mr. Khadr has been a polarizing figure here. He was taken from Canada to Afghanistan by his father, Ahmed Said Khadr, who was thought by Canadian intelligence officials to have been associated with Osama bin Laden. The elder Mr. Khadr was eventually killed by government forces in Pakistan. Other members of his family also publicly offered inflammatory statements that many Canadians viewed as condoning terrorism.
While Mr. Harper sided with Canadians who held such sentiments, Mr. Khadr received support from Canadians who viewed him as a child victim of war, a position generally taken by the courts.While Mr. Harper sided with Canadians who held such sentiments, Mr. Khadr received support from Canadians who viewed him as a child victim of war, a position generally taken by the courts.
The strong findings in favor of Mr. Khadr in earlier court decisions made it inevitable, said Ralph Goodale, the public safety minister, that the government would have to settle his lawsuit for damages. Neither the government nor Mr. Khadr’s lawyers would disclose the amount. But several Canadian news media outlets reported this week that the amount was 10.5 million Canadian dollars, or about $8.1 million, without being challenged by either party in the dispute.The strong findings in favor of Mr. Khadr in earlier court decisions made it inevitable, said Ralph Goodale, the public safety minister, that the government would have to settle his lawsuit for damages. Neither the government nor Mr. Khadr’s lawyers would disclose the amount. But several Canadian news media outlets reported this week that the amount was 10.5 million Canadian dollars, or about $8.1 million, without being challenged by either party in the dispute.
After announcing the settlement, Mr. Goodale acknowledged that some Canadians would not like having the government pay money to a man they viewed as a terrorist.After announcing the settlement, Mr. Goodale acknowledged that some Canadians would not like having the government pay money to a man they viewed as a terrorist.
But he said that the country could not deny the wrongdoing by its officials.But he said that the country could not deny the wrongdoing by its officials.
“You may want to dismiss the rule of law and the Constitution,” Mr. Goodale told reporters in Ottawa. “But if you do that, you are fundamentally undermining the integrity of the country.”“You may want to dismiss the rule of law and the Constitution,” Mr. Goodale told reporters in Ottawa. “But if you do that, you are fundamentally undermining the integrity of the country.”
Andrew Scheer, the current Conservative leader, argued that the Canada’s responsibility for Mr. Khadr ended when he was repatriated in 2012. Mr. Scheer told reporters in Calgary, Alberta, that he found the settlement “disgusting.”Andrew Scheer, the current Conservative leader, argued that the Canada’s responsibility for Mr. Khadr ended when he was repatriated in 2012. Mr. Scheer told reporters in Calgary, Alberta, that he found the settlement “disgusting.”
In an interview with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, which appeared to have been recorded before the announcement, Mr. Khadr, who was held in a Canadian prison until 2015, said he hoped the apology would help his efforts to lead a normal life.In an interview with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, which appeared to have been recorded before the announcement, Mr. Khadr, who was held in a Canadian prison until 2015, said he hoped the apology would help his efforts to lead a normal life.
“I never was angry or upset about what happened,” said Mr. Khadr, who lives in Edmonton, Alberta, and who said it had been difficult to attend school and find jobs because of his “past reputation.”“I never was angry or upset about what happened,” said Mr. Khadr, who lives in Edmonton, Alberta, and who said it had been difficult to attend school and find jobs because of his “past reputation.”
Asked about the family of the soldier he killed, Sgt. Christopher Speer, Mr. Khadr said that he was “really sorry for their pain.”Asked about the family of the soldier he killed, Sgt. Christopher Speer, Mr. Khadr said that he was “really sorry for their pain.”
While the settlement is the end of Mr. Khadr’s 15-year legal battle with the government of Canada, he is still not free of the courts.While the settlement is the end of Mr. Khadr’s 15-year legal battle with the government of Canada, he is still not free of the courts.
Two years ago, a United States federal court in Utah awarded Tabitha Speer, Sergeant Speer’s widow, and Layne Morris, a former member of the American military who lost some his eyesight because of the grenade thrown by Mr. Khadr, about $134 million in a default judgment. Two years ago, a United States federal court in Utah awarded Tabitha Speer, Sergeant Speer’s widow, and Layne Morris, a former member of the American military who lost some of his eyesight because of the grenade thrown by Mr. Khadr, about $134 million in a default judgment.
David Winer, a lawyer for the Americans, was in a Toronto court on Friday to set a date for a hearing to order a freeze on Mr. Khadr’s compensation. He declined to speak with reporters.David Winer, a lawyer for the Americans, was in a Toronto court on Friday to set a date for a hearing to order a freeze on Mr. Khadr’s compensation. He declined to speak with reporters.
Many legal experts say it will be difficult for Ms. Speer and Mr. Morris to collect the Utah judgment in Canada or to freeze Mr. Khadr’s compensation.Many legal experts say it will be difficult for Ms. Speer and Mr. Morris to collect the Utah judgment in Canada or to freeze Mr. Khadr’s compensation.
Jody Wilson-Raybould, the justice minister, said that Mr. Khadr’s story provided two messages for Canada: “Our rights are not subject to the whims of the government of the day,” she said. “And there are serious costs when the government violates the rights of its citizens.”Jody Wilson-Raybould, the justice minister, said that Mr. Khadr’s story provided two messages for Canada: “Our rights are not subject to the whims of the government of the day,” she said. “And there are serious costs when the government violates the rights of its citizens.”