I’ve been trying not to write blogs about news articles and instead just post them in my sidebar, but one today has me fuming.

Yesterday (article) the Pentagon charged Omar Khadr with a series of crimes relating to an incident in Afghanistan on July 27, 2002. That means it took the US almost 40 MONTHS to charge him! Where was he for this time? Being held at Guantanamo Bay.

Even worse is that Khadr, who was born in Canada (a full Canadian Citizen), was 14 at the time of the alleged crime. The Pentagon has replied to this by saying “He’s over 18 now”, charging him as an adult and leaving open the option of the death penalty. Holding a Canadian minor is a foreign prison known for torture, prisoner abuse, and human rights violations, without charging him with a crime for YEARS, until he is over 18 is not only illegal, but is repulsive and nauseating. The US continues to trample over international law and no international body will stand up to accuse them of crimes and punish them accordingly.

The media has twisted this story over the last several months and I’ve been following it closely. I’ve read articles that have claimed he had surrendered and then used the grenade killing a non-combatant. In fact while the soldier who died had medic training, he wasn’t a medic, and was in a soldier role at the time. The truth was twisted, and few reported that Khadr was shot and blinded. Bias has plagued this event. No matter how horrible the crime is, or who committed it, the individual deserves a fail trial, access to legal aid, and not be subjected to torture and the international crimes the US commits.

The history of the event and the characters behind it is very interesting as well. The Khadr family has been linked with Al-Qaeda and Osama bin Laden, and has been in the news more than once. Whatever the case, Omar Khadr has not been proved guilty, and despite his family’s past, he should be given all civil and legal rights that all Canadians deserve. I sincerely hope the Canadian government can ensure true justice takes place.

***EDIT***

US now says they won’t seek execution of Khadr.

Random Wikipedia Article: Trapped in the Closet
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