Toronto-born Guantanamo prisoner Omar Khadr, now 26, has been returned to Canada so that he mayÂ
Khadr’s detention in 2002 sparked a huge controversy because of his age. Then 15, Khadr became one of the youngest detainees ever imprisoned at the facility.
While his original sentence was slated at 40 years, a plea deal reduced the sentence to eight years.
Khadr was charged in October 2010 with: murder in violation of the law of war; attempted murder in violation of the law of war; conspiracy; providing material in support of terrorism; and spying.
American troops had taken Khadr following a 2002 firefight in Afghanistan. He had killed Army Sgt. First Class Christopher Speer with a hand grenade.
It was later discovered that Khadr had been affiliated with al-Qaeda since he was 10, when his father took the family to Peshawar, Pakistan to support the Afghan mujahideen. From then on he was believed to have trained at al-Qaeda camps.
In an official statement, the U.S. Department of Defense confirmed that “the United States government has returned Khadr to Canada where he will serve out his remaining sentence.”
“The United States co-ordinated with the government of Canada regarding appropriate security and humane treatment measures.”
Canadian Public Safety Minister Vic Toews confirmed in a written statement that Khadr had been transferred to Trenton, Ontario.
“I am satisfied the Correctional Service of Canada can administer Omar Khadr’s sentence in a manner which recognizes the serious nature of the crimes that he has committed and ensure the safety of Canadians is protected during incarceration,” the statement reads.
Khadr’s case continues to divide Canadians, some of whom believed that Khadr should have been tried as a child soldier.
166 detainees still remain in Guantanamo Bay.
No further information has been provided about Khadr’s transfer and current holding situation.
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