By refusing to seek the repatriation of its national, Omar Khadr, from US custody in Guantanamo Bay, the Canadian government is betraying human rights principles and perpetuating injustice, while also failing to offer a remedy for its own participation in the violation of human rights.
On Monday, January 11 the public is invited to learn more about this case and why a broad range of civil liberties, human rights, social justice and legal organizations across Canada demand the repatriation of Omar Khadr. The evening will begin with a brief vigil at Victory Park (West Pender and Hamilton) beginning at 5:45 pm, followed by a walk to SFU Harbour Centre (515 West Hastings Street), where a free public forum will get underway at 6:30 pm in the Segal Centre room.
The forum will feature three guest speakers who have addressed national and international security issues through their activism, legal work, and writing. Lawyer Carmen Cheung from the B.C. Civil Liberties Association, lawyer/activist Gail Davidson from Lawyers Rights Watch Canada, and writer/activist Derrick O’Keefe with the Canadian Peace Alliance and Stopwar.ca will explain why Omar Khadr should be brought back to Canada. Amnesty International fieldworker Alexandra Catchpole will moderate the forum, which will include time for questions and discussion.
The vigil and forum has been organized by Amnesty International – January 11 is the anniversary of the opening of the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay.
Submitted by Don Wright, Amnesty International -- Vancouver office.
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