Former Director General of Canadian Consular Services says the government of Canada acted maliciously toward Omar Khadr and owes him an apology and compensation.

Gar Pardy, a former Canadian ambassador and former Director General of Canadian Consular Services (1992-2003) endorses our petition.  Mr. Pardy has first hand information of the details of Omar’s case and has been outspoken about the misrepresentation Omar and his family received from successive Canadian governments. For a critical understanding of the case read Mr. Pardy’s “The Long Way Home: the Omar Khadr Saga” in the remarkable 2012 anthology: Omar Khadr, Oh Canada (edited by Janice Williamson). 

Gar Pardy:

“I have been assisting Omar Khadr and other members of his family since 1996.  In the intervening years Omar and other members of his family have encountered overt discriminatory actions by Canadian governments based on erroneous and malevolently interpreted information. Omar has been the most seriously affected by these actions and in the fifteen years since his imprisonment in Afghanistan and subsequent transfer to the American prison at Guantanamo Bay he was abused and tortured by the government of the United States.  In this the government of Canada acted maliciously, denying him the assistance he had every right to expect.  An  apology and compensation is long overdue and it is to be hoped that both will occur in the coming days.”

Please sign and help distribute our petition.

Dear Supporters of Justice for Omar,

We are counting on you! Please sign and share our petition. Help us reach our goal of 10,000 signatures by reaching out to as many Canadians as possible.

Noam Chomsky endorses our petition, as does Stephen Lewis, Monia Mazigh, Maher Arar, Michel Tremblay, Nancy Huston, Monique Proulx and other prominent Canadians.​

We have an obligation to seek an apology for the ​monstrous injustice Omar has endured.

Noam Chomsky: “The imprisonment and shocking treatment of Omar Khadr has been a scandal from the first moment, running right through the disgraceful trial and his subsequent detention.  The crime should be ended at once, with sincere apology and compensation. I hope someone is compiling a full record of this story, not only out of respect for Omar, but also to reveal the utter savagery of our culture, both the monstrous acts of the USG and the craven cowardice of Canada – and the fact that so few cared.”

The petition is open to Canadian citizens. Only the Parliamentary Clerk of Petitions will have access to your information which will not be made public.

​​Please see www.freeomar.ca for updated statements of endorsement.

For more information on the Omar Khadr case, see the following links.

• BACKGROUND to the OMAR KHADR CASE
• 30 ways the Canadian government failed Omar Khadr
• LRWC and ICLMG Response to the UN
• Support the FREE OMAR 2017 Fundraising Campaign

For an update on the civil suit, Dennis’ faith that Prime Minister Trudeau will take appropriate action and Omar’s current challenges and progress.

(Please notice: this video is only available in Canada)

Stephen Lewis, former Canadian ambassador to the U.S., and one of Canada’s most highly-regarded citizens, was one of earliest endorsers of our petition.

This isn’t the first time that Mr. Lewis has supported justice for Omar. In 2009, he joined 185 Canadian organizations and public figures in signing a letter to then Prime Minister Harper calling for Omar’s repatriation. As we know, Harper chose instead to abandon Omar to a corrupt military tribunal, another 3 years in Guantanamo followed by 3 years in the Canadian prison system.

Canada owes Omar a formal apology and redress for the shocking abuse and denial of fundamental justice he suffered.

Please sign and help distribute our petition.

Background to the PETITION – CANADA’S OBLIGATION TO OMAR KHADR

The Free Omar campaign is grateful to Maher Arar for endorsing our petition calling on the federal government to fulfill our moral and legal obligation to Omar Khadr.

Canadians are likely familiar with the case of Mr. Arar, a Syrian-Canadian who in 2008, after a formal inquiry, received compensation and a formal government apology for the shocking role of Canadian officials in his 2002 rendition and year of captivity and torture in Syria. While the pain and suffering caused to Maher Arar and his family can never be fully remedied, as in Omar’s case, Canada had an obligation to award redress. Canada must respect our international obligation to oppose torture in all instances.

We thank Maher Arer for his support. We hope he inspires you to sign our petition.

Please sign and share the petition; support justice for Omar!

Background to the PETITION – CANADA’S OBLIGATION TO OMAR KHADR

A sincere thank you to Monia Mazigh for her endorsement of our petition.

In her article in the Huffington Post, she reminds us why it is so important for Canada to fulfill our obligation to Omar.

“Omar Khadr was stripped of his rights as a child, as a teenager and later as an adult. Today, he is trying hard to put his life back on track and get the education that was denied to him all these past years. As long as Omar Khadr file is still lingering, Canada won’t be able to hide its dark face and celebrate its record on the world scene. It is time for the Canadian government to act swiftly and let the sun shine on Omar Khadr’s life”.

Please read the article “Omar Khadr’s Case A Black Stamp On Canada’s Human Rights Record“, then sign and share the petition below. We are counting on your signature!

Background to the PETITION – CANADA’S OBLIGATION TO OMAR KHADR

Monia Mazigh is a Canadian writer and an important  human rights activist. She is known for her efforts to free her husband Maher Arar from a Syrian prison. In June 2015 she was appointed National Coordinator of the International Civil Liberties Monitoring Group. She is co-author of  “LRWC and ICLMG Response to the UN”, on Canada’s response to the UN Committee against Torture in the case of Omar Khadr.

We are honored to have received a statement of support from Professor Noam Chomsky. Professor Chomsky is widely recognized as one of the most influential figures and most important public intellectuals of our times.

It is with great pleasure that we share his voice of support in which he underlines the importance of justice for Omar.

Like others in the international community who monitor state human rights violations, Noam Chomsky views Canada’s appalling behaviour with criticism and consternation:

We thank Professor Chomsky for his support. We hope he inspires you to sign our petition.

Background to the PETITION – CANADA’S OBLIGATION TO OMAR KHADR

At 15 years of age Omar Khadr, a Canadian citizen was abandoned to a decade of abuse and torture in Guantanamo Bay U.S. Military Prison and denied fundamental justice in violation of Canadian law and the international conventions to which Canada is a signatory. Such an appalling miscarriage of justice is a disgrace to Canada and, until remedied, should cause us to question our humanity and respect for the rule of law.

Please sign and share the parliamentary e-petition with your family, friends and social media. Call on the government to fulfill our long overdue obligation to Omar Khadr by offering an official apology and appropriate compensation for the wrongs he has suffered.

The petition is open to Canadian citizens. Only the Parliamentary Clerk of Petitions will have access to your information which will not be made public.

For more information on the Omar Khadr case, see the following links.

• BACKGROUND to the OMAR KHADR CASE
• 30 ways the Canadian government failed Omar Khadr
• LRWC and ICLMG Response to the UN
• Support the FREE OMAR 2017 Fundraising Campaign

This petition is sponsored by Hélène Laverdière, MP Laurier-Saint-Marie.

Following news of Omar’s grueling 19 hour surgery there has been an outpouring of concern and good will for him. It will be a great relief for you to read a message Omar would like to share with all of his supporters.

Message from Omar:
“I would like to thank you all for taking the time to send me words of encouragement and kindness. It has been a challenging week for me, however, the news of your support has added to my endurance and faith on the road to recovery. I am out of the hospital but still in the initial stages of healing and will do my best to respond to messages when I regain my strength. I’m always honoured to receive your messages”

If you would like to send a message to Omar, the address is [email protected]. Or you can mail a card to:

Free Omar Khadr Now Committee,
P.O. Box 57112,
RPO E. Hastings St.
Vancouver, V5K1Z0 B.C.

All messages and cards will be forwarded and will be much appreciated.

Read here the FACTSHEET with key events of the Omar Khadr case. It reveals the circumstances -15 years ago- under which Omar was shot in the back by a U.S. soldier, leaving him severely injured with a damaged shoulder. Now he is suitably treated for this and recovering from major surgery.

In French

Omar vous remercie

La nouvelle de l’intervention chirurgicale d’Omar a déclenché une vague de sympathie. Vous serez soulagé de lire un message d’Omar à toutes les personnes qui lui ont envoyé des vœux de prompt rétablissement.

Message d’Omar:
J’aimerais remercier tous ceux qui ont pris le temps de m’envoyer des messages d’encouragement et de gentillesse. J’ai eu une dure semaine, mais l’écho de votre soutien m’a donné du courage et de la foi sur la route de la guérison. Je suis sorti de l’hôpital, mais toujours dans les premiers stades de la convalescence. Je vais faire tout mon possible pour vous répondre dès que j’aurai repris des forces. Vos messages me font toujours chaud au coeur.