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.
91裸聊视频淲hen a Canadian soldier is injured in battle, the government provides a disability award up to a maximum of $360,000,91裸聊视频� Conservative MP Michelle Rempel said in a tweet. 91裸聊视频淒espite this, the current government is willing to provide $10 million to a convicted terrorist.91裸聊视频�
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.
91裸聊视频淭his is offensive to many Canadians,91裸聊视频� the petition states. 91裸聊视频淐anadians should not be forced to pay millions of dollars to a killer.91裸聊视频�
Social media exploded with denunciation of the agreement, which sources said would see the government pay Khadr $10.5 million 91裸聊视频� part of which would go to his lawyers 91裸聊视频� and the justice and public safety ministers formally apologize to him.
Posters used words such as 91裸聊视频渄isgraceful,91裸聊视频� 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.
91裸聊视频淢ost Canadians91裸聊视频� thoughts would be with Christopher Speer91裸聊视频檚 widow and family, who are reliving their terrible ordeal once again because of the actions of the Canadian government this time,91裸聊视频� 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.
Khadr91裸聊视频檚 $20-million lawsuit 91裸聊视频� initially launched in 2004 91裸聊视频� 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 91裸聊视频渃hild soldier91裸聊视频� called the apparent settlement long overdue.
91裸聊视频淔or 15 years, Omar Khadr91裸聊视频檚 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,91裸聊视频� Alex Neve, secretary general of Amnesty in Canada, said in a statement. 91裸聊视频淚n Afghanistan, at Guantanamo Bay and in Canadian prisons, Omar Khadr91裸聊视频檚 rights were consistently violated and ignored.91裸聊视频�
The Canadian Press
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