Apology and compensation for damages to Omar Khadr: Justin Trudeau defends the decision of his government

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QMI agency

Saturday, July 8, 2017 16:49

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Saturday, July 8, 2017 16:49

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HAMBURG, Germany | The prime minister Justin Trudeau has defended, on Saturday, the apology and compensation offered by the canadian government to Omar Khadr, at the closing conference of the G20 summit held in Hamburg, Germany.

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“The Charter protects all Canadians. Each of us, even when it is uncomfortable. It has nothing to do with what Khadr or not. When the government violates the rights of a Canadian, we end up all paying,” said Mr. Trudeau.

On Friday, the federal government issued a formal apology to Mr. Khadr for the role played by Canada in the treatment he had suffered at the u.s. military prison in Guantanamo bay, Cuba, where he remained for 10 years.

Accused of war crimes because of his involvement in the death of u.s. soldier Christopher Speer, Khadr was 15 years old when he was brought to the u.s. military base, where he was tortured and deprived of access to a lawyer.

Ottawa has also paid a compensation of $ 10.5 million for the former inmate to settle a lawsuit that it has brought several years ago in relation to the violation of his rights as a canadian citizen.

The supreme Court of Canada acknowledged in 2010 that the rights of Mr. Khadr had been violated.

The decision of the Trudeau government, has raised controversy and has been roundly criticized by the conservative Party. Its chief, Andrew Scheer, has denounced the government “for having established a terrorist, a millionaire.”