TORONTO - Prime Minister Stephen Harper's refusal to press for the repatriation of Omar Khadr from Guantanamo Bay is a political and legal travesty, social activists said Friday in announcing a series of rallies across the country.
Canada could find itself hauled before the United Nations Human Rights Commission for failing to come to the aid of the accused Canadian terrorist, they added.
"Omar became a victim, on one hand, because he was manipulated by his family at a young age," said Mohamed Boudjenane, executive director of the Canadian Arab Federation.
"He's also the victim of this government, which is now supporting this kangaroo legal system happening in Guantanamo Bay."
In downtown Montreal, about 60 people protested in favour of Khadr's repatriation outside Canadian immigration offices.
Other rallies are planned for Toronto and Ottawa on Saturday, and another in Vancouver on Wednesday.
The Toronto-born Khadr, 21, faces trial before a U.S. military commission for allegedly killing an American military medic with a hand grenade after a firefight in Afghanistan in July 2002.
He was 15 at the time.
Despite widespread international condemnation of the military commissions, the previous Liberal government and now Harper's Conservative government have refused to intervene on his behalf.
Harper recently insisted that Canada has no choice but to let Khadr go through the legal process at Guantanamo, where he has been detained for almost six years.
"There is not a snowball's chance in heck that he going to be able to get himself a fair trial," said Sid Lacombe of the Canadian Peace Alliance.
Recent opinion polls done following the release of video showing Khadr under interrogation by Canada's spy agency suggest Canadians want Khadr to face justice at Guantanamo Bay.
But the activists claim public opinion is starting to shift in favour of bringing Khadr home. They said Harper ignores the change at his political peril.
"Mr. Harper is trying to out-Bush Bush on these sorts of questions," Lacombe said. "(But) it will be politically problematic for him to tie himself this closely to the Bush administration."
Khadr remains the lone western detainee still at Guantanamo, where documentation indicates he was abused by his American captors. His trial is due to start Oct. 8.
Critics, including the United Church, argue that Khadr's age when he was caught means he should be treated like a child soldier, not a war criminal.
"Other action" may be needed if the rallies and public pressure fail to persuade Harper to act, Boudjenane said.
"Maybe Canada can find itself in front of the United Nations Human Rights Commission defending itself and the fact Canada is not respecting its own convention and treaties when it comes to the protection of child soldiers," he said.
Stuart Trew, of the Council of Canadians, said Khadr should be returned to Canada and released, or face justice here.
Instead, he is being forced to face a "show trial" because Canada is putting its trade relationship ahead of his rights, Trew said
"Trade between Canada and the United States has a lot to do with why a Canadian citizen rots in Guantanamo Bay."
