Word that the federal government has agreed to pay former Guantanamo Bay prisoner Omar Khadr more than $10 million and apologize to him to settle a long-running lawsuit sparked a furious and at times virulent reaction on Tuesday among those who see him as a terrorist killer and those who believe he deserves compensation.
The settlement, confirmed by sources familiar with the deal, exposed the deep chasm that has divided Canadians over Khadr almost since 2002 when he was dragged horrifically wounded as a 15-year-old from the battlefield in Afghanistan.
B次元官网网址淲hen a Canadian soldier is injured in battle, the government provides a disability award up to a maximum of $360,000,B次元官网网址� Conservative MP Michelle Rempel said in a tweet. B次元官网网址淒espite this, the current government is willing to provide $10 million to a convicted terrorist.B次元官网网址�
The Canadian Taxpayers Federation started an online petition aimed at Liberal Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who was in Ireland, deploring the deal one source said was signed last week.
B次元官网网址淭his is offensive to many Canadians,B次元官网网址� the petition states. B次元官网网址淐anadians should not be forced to pay millions of dollars to a killer.B次元官网网址�
Social media exploded with denunciation of the agreement, which sources said would see the government pay Khadr $10.5 million B次元官网网址� part of which would go to his lawyers B次元官网网址� and the justice and public safety ministers formally apologize to him.
Posters used words such as B次元官网网址渄isgraceful,B次元官网网址� some called for the Canadian citizen to be kicked out of the country, while others argued the money should go to the family of Chris Speer, the U.S. special forces soldier Khadr is alleged to have killed in 2002.
B次元官网网址淢ost CanadiansB次元官网网址� thoughts would be with Christopher SpeerB次元官网网址檚 widow and family, who are reliving their terrible ordeal once again because of the actions of the Canadian government this time,B次元官网网址� said Tony Clement, another Conservative MP.
The Toronto-born Khadr, 30, pleaded guilty to five war crimes before a much maligned military commission in 2010. He has claimed, with some evidence, his American captors tortured him.
KhadrB次元官网网址檚 $20-million lawsuit B次元官网网址� initially launched in 2004 B次元官网网址� alleges the federal government breached his rights by, among other things, colluding with the Americans in his mistreatment.
Those who see him as a terribly abused B次元官网网址渃hild soldierB次元官网网址� called the apparent settlement long overdue.
B次元官网网址淔or 15 years, Omar KhadrB次元官网网址檚 case has been a stark reminder of the many ways that an overreaching and unchecked approach to national security readily runs roughshod over universally protected human rights,B次元官网网址� Alex Neve, secretary general of Amnesty in Canada, said in a statement. B次元官网网址淚n Afghanistan, at Guantanamo Bay and in Canadian prisons, Omar KhadrB次元官网网址檚 rights were consistently violated and ignored.B次元官网网址�
The Canadian Press
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