“John Phillips, one of Khadr’s lawyers, lauded the move and said they were ‘pleased to see Canada finally acknowledge that Omar is not a dangerous individual.'” Of course. What could possibly go wrong? He’s just a trained, hardened jihad terrorist and a confessed murderer. Of course he belongs in a medium-security prison! Why, even that is too much — maybe even “Islamophobic”! Better to transfer him to one of those country-club prisons for soft embezzlers and fraudsters, with no walls at all! After all, he’s just a warrior of jihad, and that’s just an interior spiritual struggle, right?
Omar Khadr has long been one of the favored causes of the Left, mostly because he was so young when he was at Guantanamo, and was from a Western country. Surely he must have been a victim of “racism” and “Islamophobia,” right? Never mind that he confessed to murder.
“Locals uneasy about Omar Khadr’s transfer to nearby prison,” by Jessica Hume for the Toronto Sun, February 12 (thanks to Alex):
OTTAWA – Residents of Innisfail, Alta., weren’t happy to hear about their new neighbour, terrorist Omar Khadr, who was transferred to a medium-security jail there.
Public Safety Minister Steven Blaney assured Canadians the government will go out of its way to fight a lighter prison sentence for Khadr, who is a Canadian citizen.
Khadr was convicted of killing an American medic in Afghanistan and transferred from Guantanamo Bay to a maximum-security prison in Alberta 15 months ago.
He was transferred Wednesday to the Bowden Institute in Innisfail.
John Phillips, one of Khadr’s lawyers, lauded the move and said they were “pleased to see Canada finally acknowledge that Omar is not a dangerous individual.”
Local resident Geraldine Veilleux called it a “scary prospect.”
“It brings terrorism a little too close to home,” she said.
Doreen Battram said she feels uneasy.
“He could get out,” she said[.]
Phillips told QMI Agency the transfer was just “the first step by Canada in providing Omar with treatment that is appropriate for someone who is a former child soldier.”
Blaney doesn’t consider Khadr a “child soldier.”
“Omar Khadr pleaded guilty to heinous crimes including the murder of American Army medic Sgt. Christopher Speer,” Blaney’s spokesman, Jean-Christophe de le Rue, told QMI Agency. “The government will vigorously defend against any attempted court action to lessen his punishment for these crimes.”
Khadr’s lawyers meet with their client Friday. Phillips indicated to QMI Agency that Khadr wants to complete his high school diploma while in prison.
How sweet.