Apr 28th, 2010
Posted by Suzanne Ito, ACLU at 09:48am	Detention, Safe Communities, Fair Sentences

Former Child Soldier Omar Khadr Before Military Commissions Today

Today, the military commission case against former child soldier Omar Khadr will restart once again. As we've chronicled many times in the past, Khadr was 15 when he was taken into U.S. custody after a firefight in Afghanistan that resulted in the death of U.S. Army Sergeant 1st Class Christopher Speer, as well as injuries to other soldiers. If all goes according to the government's plan, Khadr's case will go to trial this summer, the first military commission trial under President Obama.

This week's hearings will assess whether statements Khadr made while he was tortured at Guantánamo can be used at his trial (if it actually happens).

For Khadr, there are two other options to keeping his case in the unconstitutional military commissions system: send him home to Canada where he can be rehabilitated, or if there is still uncoerced evidence against him, send his case to federal criminal court, a time-tested system that knows how to bring people to justice and give him a fair trial as former juvenile.

Jennifer Turner, who has monitored proceedings in Guantánamo before, and Khadr's specifically, is in Gitmo now as a human rights observer. She'll be blogging her thoughts on this week's proceedings.

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Tags: Omar Khadr

1. Anonymous Says:
   Apr 28th, 2010 at 1:01pm

   The people who should be on trial are the ones who tortured and persecuted Khadr.

2. Dave Walvoord Says:
   Apr 29th, 2010 at 2:34pm

   Khadr has no rights, and should be executed. If he was tortured before to obtain information, we should use that as evidence that torturing works and continue to do so.

3. Makaainana Says:
   Apr 30th, 2010 at 11:48am

   I propose a second Statue of Justice to be used by the Military Commissions.

   It would be a large kangaroo holding a "hearing aid horn" to his ear, and a shabby halo over his head. The horn should be labeled "Political Needs and Considerations." The halo should be labeled "American Justice Reputation."

4. Stalin Says:
   Apr 30th, 2010 at 2:15pm

   Your absolutly right Dave,torture is the best solution in any situation.
   Ps.thanks for keeping the dream alive.