...born with the gift of laughter and a sense that the world was mad

“Human rights” above all: In a letter to the Toronto Sun, the executive director of the Canadian Arab Federation, an outfit that's well-known for its humanitarianism, makes the case for respecting Omar Khadr’s “human rights”:

Much has been said about the family of Omar Khadr, a bizarre clan who all but sealed Khadr's fate to languish in Guantanamo Bay while guaranteeing Canadian apathy.

Even more has been said about the Canadian government's callous indifference and frosty reception to the idea of Khadr's repatriation.

But what is seemingly lost in the debate about the rights guaranteed to a citizen and the serious allegations of purported terrorist acts is the most important nugget of information.

When Omar Khadr was arrested, he was just a kid.

The Geneva Conventions, ratified by Canada, promise a plethora of protections to children and child soldiers and some, if not all, have been betrayed by Khadr's family and now American officials.

The human rights which the international community, including Canada and the United States, are supposed to allot even to participants of war is absent in the case of Khadr. His victimization is apparent -- initially by the choices of his family and now through unjust government policy. He has been failed by those who have the duty to protect him.

At one time, Canada was one of the most active countries of the United Nations to strive to rehabilitate child soldiers in war-torn regions of Africa. In Angola for instance, millions of dollars were invested into the future and welfare of children by building and opening schools for former child soldiers. Incidentally, no educational resources or opportunities have been granted to Omar Khadr since his detainment six years ago.

Lack of support for Khadr's return is largely based on the rather boneheaded remarks his family made about their derision to Western society and his father's close link to al-Qaida; it was not, however, Omar Khadr's words which expressed scorn nor did he choose to begin any relationship with a terrorist group.

His victimization is further compounded by the right-wing agenda of Stephen Harper and his party which is flagrantly ignoring Canada's historical commitment to human rights and the rule of law. This is not the only example of Canada's sudden policy shift; the Durban anti-racism conference, landmine elimination and protection of the environment are suddenly no longer essential matters to Canada.

Omar Khadr's victimization by numerous parties is rather obvious but the exacerbation of his treatment is multiplied by the government's lack of respect for the international treaties and conventions that outline human rights and rights of children. It is time for Harper to stop playing games with the life of this youth and demand that he come home.

Yeah, Harper, why won’t you submit to the international “human rights”/eco agenda? It would make everything so much simpler.

Posted by: scaramouche at 09:16 | link | comments

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