Former Guantanamo Bay prisoner Omar Khadr (right) and his lawyer Dennis Edney wait for their ride in Edmonton after a hearing on bail conditions on September 11, 2015.

Former Guantanamo Bay prisoner Omar Khadr (right) and his lawyer Dennis Edney wait for their ride in Edmonton after a hearing on bail conditions on September 11, 2015.
Photo Credit: PC / Jason franson/Canadian Press

Omar Khadr’s bail stands, government drops appeal

The new Canadian government has dropped the fight to reverse Omar Khadr’s release on bail. The former Guantanamo Bay inmate is living with his lawyer in the western Canadian city of Edmonton while he appeals his conviction and sentence in the U.S. on war crimes charges. Khadr is also suing the Canadian government for $20 million accusing it of conspiring with the U.S. to torture him and breach is rights.

Khadr recanted confession

Khadr was 15 years old and severely injured when he was captured in Afghanistan in July 2002. He faced several war crimes charges including the murder of a U.S. special forces soldier. He pleaded guilty to that murder before a widely discredited Military Commission and said he did so only to get out of prison.

Although the previous Conservative Canadian government resisted pressure for a long time, it finally accepted his return to Canada in 2012 under an international transfer treaty. Once in Canada, he was granted bail while he appealed his conviction.

Liberal government reverses several policies

The Conservative government filed an appeal in a bid to keep Khadr behind bars. Conservatives were soundly beaten in the October 2015 election. The new Liberal government has now issued a statement stating that withdrawing appeal “is an important step towards fulfilling the government’s commitment to review its litigation strategy.”

The new Liberal government has made many dramatic changes reversing several Conservative policies. They include committing to action on climate change, reversing cuts to refugee health benefits, freeing scientists and civil servants to speak publicly, deciding to quickly bring in 25,000 Syrian refugees, and making cabinet minister available to publicly discuss current issues and answer reporters’ questions.

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