A Commentary By Mollie Stovell
It’s always nice to see a local resident really making a name for themselves. It always gives me a sense of pride, having grown up in Niagara. Then, once in a while you come upon a story, with a name, that diminishes that joy you once shared with your neighbours.
Omar Khadr then and more recently
For me, most recently, that story stars our (Niagara Falls) MP, Mr. Rob Nicholson, and his involvement with the Omar Khadr case. One could argue that Mr. Nicholson is merely doing his job by following the direction of our Prime Minister. However, as Canada’s Minister of Justice he must be held accountable for upholding our rights as Canadians, and, as his title implies, ensuring that justice is served.
For Omar Khadr, a Canadian citizen, he has not only failed on this front, but continues to fight against those standing on the just side of the law, that is, the Federal Court and previously, the Supreme Court of Canada.
Mr. Khadr was only 15 years old when detained at Guantanamo Bay. By Canadian standards, and even more importantly, international law, he was a child. He has been held for eight years awaiting trial. Eight years spent in a prison rife with conflict, illegalities, and human rights violations.
The International Committee of the Red Cross has stated that, “Every person in enemy hands must have some status under international law: he/she is either a prisoner of war and, as such, covered by the Third Convention, a civilian covered by the Fourth Convention, [or] a member of the medical personnel of the armed forces who is covered by the First Convention. There is no intermediate status; nobody in enemy hands can fall outside the law.”
The officials at Guantanamo Bay have been able to hold prisoners indefinitely by not classifying them into these categories, keeping the prisoners in a black hole of sorts, beyond the reach of US or international law. Omar Khadr is no exception.
While waiting for the US government to determine exactly what to do with its prisoners, what laws can be altered to better serve their purposes, Mr. Khadr himself has been frozen in time. Physically, his obvious aging from a child to adult, and the developing signs of probable mental illness from years of physical and mental abuse helps one to realize exactly the amount of time he has spent in a battle for his civil rights.
That is what it comes down to. The case against him is precarious at best, but the actions of the Canadian government have been loud and clear: We will not help. We will not stand behind our citizen even knowing that his civil rights have been violated, that we are at fault.
To see Mr. Nicholson so proudly proclaim that his government will be fighting the federal court ruling that demands that we, as a country, help this man, shames me as a Canadian and a resident of Niagara. When did our country decide to become so disreputable, no longer an example of freedom and rights for the world to look up to?
Once we become a country that can pick and choose which citizens have rights, we become a country full of citizens without any real rights at all.
(Mollie Stovell is a resident in Niagara, Ontario. This is her first contribution to Niagara At Large.)
(Visit Niagara At Large at www.niagaraatlarge.com for more news and commentary on matters of interest and concern to our greater binational Niagara region. And consider being a contributor of news and commentary yourself. Click on ‘Be a contributor’ above the masthead on our home page for more information.)
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Oh, boo hoo! Poor little Omar. As far as I’m concerned, regardless of his age, he was an enemy combatant. This equals, as he was a Canadian citizen, treason. It seems in the good old days traitors were shot.
Everybody whines about him while other Canadians stranded abroad (like the lady recently incarcerated in Mexico despite her innocence) are ignored. He got food and excellent medical care unlike her.
His whole family has done nothing but run our country down (his sister and mother wearing their head to toe bags), his brothers aiding the enemy (it seems Canada is good enough to return to for the free health care offered his brother-also an enemy combatant against Canadian troops in Afghanistan) and his father who died in Afghanistan. Why do we keep these losers in our country. If they are so devoted to their homeland, treason should be good enough grounds for their citizenship to be revoked. Canadians are a bunch of do gooders and it will be our demise. I’m curious, with the father dead, if momma bear and her cubs are living off welfare or other ill gotten resources. Next thing we know little Omar will be getting a veteran’s pension or suing us taxpayers!
Let him ROT!
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I assume you must be in support of our youth having active sex lives at the age of 15. Dropping out of school in grade nine or ten should also be a decision left up to the child. And of course driving, cigarettes, pornography and alcohol should also be incorporated into a 15 year old’s lifestyle, if he or she wishes.
This is the Canada that you are asking for, and these are the beliefs that your view portrays, unless of course it is biased based on who Omar Khadr is and his religious and ethnic background. Otherwise, I’m sure you realize that your faith in a 15 year old’s abilities and development is far greater than mine and most of society’s.
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Assumptions “make an ass of you and me” as the saying goes so thank you for your assumptions. None of the above Mollie. First, I feel all religions are ancient, tribal fairy tales so his religion has nothing to do with my opinions – it is totally irrelevant in my view except that his religious beliefs caused him to fight a war and kill people – quite a nice religion like most of have been throughout history. I am very open to other ethnicities and their cultures and have travelled the world. Have you? How in hell you assume I support 15 year old’s active sex life, pornography, alcohol, smoking, dropping out of school and so on from my blog is beyond my comprehension. Just where is the connection???? Are you a little paranoid here? By the way, I do NOT smoke, drink, etc.nor do I condone it – SURPRISE!!!! The young man has been indoctrinated since birth and is very unlikely to change. Answer these questions please – Why was he in Afghanistan at 15? What was the purpose of him being there? Who paid for him to be there? 15 year olds have neither the funds nor the ability to mount such an endeavour. Why would you want a terrorist regardless of age living in our country? Why, if he is a true Canadian, is he fighting Canadians? Contrary to your statement, these decision were NOT made by a child but by greater forces (parents and terrorist groups). This I grant was not wholey his endeavour. Regardless, due to his ingrained beliefs, whether indoctrinated by his parents, the Taliban or whomever, he has no place in our country. Great, set him free. Just return him to Afghanistan where his loyalty lies. “Let him rot” was an exaggerration to make a point. So he was a child, I grant him some amnesty for that but he is not a loyal Canadian and never will be nor wants to be. HE demonstrated that by his actions. Afghanistan is a quagmire and no one has a right to be interfering there so the Afghan people have a right to fight back. Learn some history of this nation stuck in the 12th century (or more realistically tribal states) and you will see it’s history is long troubled by foreign invaders who have always been defeated. You can’t fight phantoms. Due to this history his family feels their cause is just so why not stay THERE and fight for it – not in Canada.
Your response is idiotic. Who in hell supports pornography, etc.? I am not bigoted re. his race or ethnicity but by his actions, condoned by crazy radicals (his family) who also should lose their right to citizenship. With the PRIVELEGE of citizenship comes responsibilities, none of which have been demonstrated by his family or himself. I am not asking for a Canada as you so conveniently (by the process of mind reading) state that I endorse, but a return to one of decency where citizenship is an honour not to be spat upon by traitors.
Please stop your irrarional assumptions about me and pull your head out of the sand. Check on the CBC site if it’s still there and see what his family has to say about our country.
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Just checking for your illuminating and learned response. (Excuse me for hitting the wrong key – I meant “irrational” assumptions.) You did make assumptions about someone you do not know – very foolish behaviour and very unethical. I am still awaiting SPECIFIC answers to each SPECIFIC question which I posed. I, at least up to the point of your accusatory response, was relatively civil without making accusations of endorsing perversion, etc. against you. I would appreciate the same in return.
You are also accusing me of saying a 15 year old made the decisions he did and that this implies I feel 15 year olds should engage in such serious decision making. I said his family and others are behind his actions and for this reason none of them belong in our country. He committed treasonable activities. You know the saying “love it or leave it”. He voluntarily left it and obviously does not love it except that it may get his butt out of the mess he created for himself.
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Wow, what a sad response that was. As Omar was a mere 15 years of age we are in fact talking about a victim here…and what’s even sadder is obviously you have no concept of this. It appears that my vision of Canada as a land of tolerant and big hearted folk that I have clung to all my life is perhaps but a myth in my mind.
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I was waiting for just such a response. Canada is tolerant but unfortunately also takes in many of the dregs of world society even after their refugee claims have been rebuffed by other nations. There is a dividing line between toleration and downright stupidity. Have you ever heard the Khadr family speak about their impressions of Canada? According to them, the entire nation is one of evil degenerates but they are ready, willing and able to utilize everything our country and its taxpayers have to offer! In the past, newcomers kissed the ground when they arrived here. The Khadrs spit on it and continue to do so. Can you deny that? If you do, YOU obviously have no concept of the situation. Why then did they come here? Are you aware of the family history – supplying arms and cash to the Taliban and active combative support within Afghanistan? Have YOU known any Canadians killed there or witnessed the repatriation of a dead soldier perhaps killed by someone as young as Khadr? I feel it is YOU who does not have a grasp of the situation. A fifteen year old can and does kill. If he ever did come back to Canada he would return to the same vile indoctrination from his family as in his childhood. He is a victim of his own family, not of us. The entire family should have their citizenship revoked for treason. Perhaps you could take him into your home should he return.
My response was NOT sad but realistic. I DO have a concept of his “victimization”. Perhaps you need to have a son or daughter go to Afghanistan and be killed by an IED planted by a “child”. Victim or not, Canada is not a place for him. If he is a victim as you claim, send him back to the country where he was captured. That seems to be where his family’s loyalties lie.
As for your “vision” of Canada as tolerant and big hearted, we are both – but there are limits!
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First off, I apologize. I did not realize my comments would be taken as a personal attack.
Although an uneducated ass, I must say I agree with many of the statements that you have made. However, I am confused as to why anyone suggesting that these decisions that Mr. Khadr ‘made’ were actually the decisions of his family and a result of the influence over his young mind, and then also say that they believe he should be denied his rights.
A child is not capable of making responsible decisions regarding sex, drugs and the like. Nor is one like Mr. Khadr, already indoctrinated as I certainly agree that he was, culpable for actions that he decided to take. I fail to see how the two are unrelated. They are exactly the same.
A right is a right is a right. At this point in Canada, our laws state that Mr. Khadr should be granted certain rights because he is a citizen. We do not typically deny these rights to ‘bad’ citizens, or “dregs of world society”. In fact, dare I say, it is regularly these ‘bad’ individuals that these rights are meant to protect, as we assume innocence until guilt is proven. The right to a fair trial. The right to a jury of your peers. The right to remain silent. The expectation that as a Canadian being held by Americans, the right to not be subject to torture and inhumane treatment to ‘get you to talk’.
Maybe changing these laws would better support your opinion, by qualifying ‘rights’. But that would mean that our rights have become privileges. That is precisely the Canada in which I do not want to live.
Maybe I am smart enough, with my head clearly above the sand, to be able to see our rights and freedoms as black and white, in spite of all of those who try to muddy the waters with arguments such as yours.
Thank you for taking such an interest in this topic. We are all entitled to our opinions. It is our right as Canadians.
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Thank you for your apology. It is much appreciated.
Also thank you for your concession that we both have a right to our opinions.
Assumptions can make us look like “asses”, myself included. I did not say you were uneducated but I have been to that part of the world and am aware of the history of the area. I only suggested that reading up on Afghanistan would give you more information about the US, Soviet and other foreign involvement, the hopelessness of the current situation there, the corruption, and the raison d’etre of the resistance from the inhabitants. We have no business interfering there and, while everyone supports our troops, we need not support the cause for which they were sent. Of course the Afghans and the Khadrs have every right to fight back but not as Canadian citizens, nor should they expect said citizenship to be a safe harbour for exemption from consequences of their activities.
If Omar is eventually cleared he should return to Canada ONLY with the proviso that he no longer provide direct or indirect, clandestine or open support to that country on threat of revocation of his rights as a citizen and imprisonment here. If this occurred, my guess his behaviour would eventually return to sedition.
How else would I take something but as a personal attack when you say – “the Canada YOU are asking for” , “the beliefs your views portray” and “biased on religious and etnic backgrounds”. None of the above is true so, again, thank you for your apology.
The issue is obviously not black and white. Both his family and, agreeably to a lesser extent being 15, he is responsible for his actions. The US should have long ago cleared up this matter and made some decision. They perpetually trample on human rights contrary to their claim of being a bastion of librty. Canada, on the other hand, has been gutless in standing up for the rights of many of its citizens incarcerated abroad, many of whom have NOT even been accused of a specific crime whereas he was involved in very questionable activities in a very dangerous place which (I’m not sure) may have even had a travel ban for Canadians. If it walks like a duck…..
Also, as I said, his family has not been a stellar example of citizenship and it boggles the mind how individuals get into Canada with absolutely no gratitude or devotion directed toward their new home. It is our lax acceptance of such ungrateful “refugees” that irks me so.
As for being 15, this somewhat but not entirely mitigates his responsibility. I know many fine 15 year olds and some who are not. I certainly would not want Jon Venables living in my neighbourhood and how old was he (12?)when he committed the brutal murder of a toddler? Now that he is freed, many years later, he is returning to his old ways and has been arrested again in his 20’s. I’m sure his family had not indoctrinated him to murder toddlers.
You did fail to answer some questions eg who paid for him to be there and why? I am not advocating either his continued imprissonment or his execution but simply to find the truth and treat him and his family accordingly. Our country needs to swing the pendulum more towards protecting the public.
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Linda, had your original and subsequent posts reflected these opinions, I would not have had the same response. I hope you will realize that using phrases such as “let him rot”, and referring to Muslim dress as “head to toe bags” do not indicate the level of tolerance and reason that you have since displayed.
Although I have never traveled to Afghanistan or the surrounding areas, mid-east peace relations are a passion of mine. I am well aware of the history of the nation, of the Russian invasion used as a tactic to gain the upper hand in the Cold War, and most importantly, of the financial support and arms provided to the mujahideen by both the Carter and Reagan governments.
The history of the country, and of the discord in the middle east is of the utmost importance when trying to understand the current conflict, but I fail to see its relevance in understanding Mr. Khadr’s day-to-day life and this current situation. I highly doubt that he, after being shot two times and suffering from shrapnel wounds all over his body, would have been considering his “citizenship to be a safe harbour for exemption from consequences” at the time that he is accused of throwing the grenade. Even though this is quite likely the reasoning behind his father’s pleas to Jean Chretien in 1996, I imagine, at 15, he was more likely crying for his mother, as he was in the recorded CSIS interviews.
What I would like is for our government to do its job and help out a Canadian citizen, just as all other western countries have done. We have become a joke to the rest of the world. Citizens of countries such as the UK and France openly condemn us for our treatment of Mr. Khadr. As well, many Americans who are opposed to the war and Guantanamo Bay, because of the treatment of prisoners and the illegality of the ‘legal’ proceedings, are appalled at our behaviour.
We have been ordered by the highest courts in Canada to help ensure, at the very least, that Mr. Khadr is given a fair trial, in Guantanmo, or preferably in Canada, and we have continuously appealed these orders. Will the Harper government and Rob Nicholson be held accountable for this, for not following the court’s rule? Certainly not.
It was the purpose of my post to point out this fact. This man was born in Canada and despite wrong-doings on his part and his family’s, as a citizen he deserves a government that does not abandon him. There are many, many individuals in this country that are not ‘good Canadians’ and they are all entitled to their rights, afforded by this democratic country. Any time an exception is made a person is denied their rights. It’s a slippery slope. How can it be your right if it depends on who you are and the circumstances under which you and your family have lived? When it becomes optional, it ceases to be a right, but a privilege. At 15, he is to be granted amnesty, and as a Canadian, he is to be granted his rights.
Canada does need to protest it’s citizens and show concern for public safety. Personally I am not afraid of Mr. Khadr. I am afraid of living in a country where I know that my rights are only justified based on the opinions of government officials.
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I applaud your thoughtful response. There areas where we both agree and disagree and it would be very interesting to have a face to face discussion of our views sometime. Discussion can teach us all a lot and is much more useful than avoiding topics about which there may be disagreement. I think people are reticent to enter into dialogue with which they feel uncomfortable and that simply lets inequities and injustices continue to exist and prevents us from finding common ground. We both were least are willing to debate and try to find something positive. My early post was extreme but I just get so tired of feeling people abuse the generosity of our nation and its good people in so many ways and I don’t feel mine is an isolated opinion.
We started out with some degree of tension but I feel that has been resolved through being open about our opinions and that can’t be bad. All the best to you.
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To you as well.
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Odd how often obnoxious people trample on others and then demand an abject apology.
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