National Breaking News

The Canadian Press - ONLINE EDITION

Ottawa's denial of media access to jailed Omar Khadr branded 'propaganda'

By: Colin Perkel, The Canadian Press

Thursday, Mar. 14, 2013 at 2:57 PM | Comments: 0

TORONTO - The government's refusal to allow the media access to former Guantanamo Bay detainee Omar Khadr is aimed at protecting its portrayal of him as a dangerous terrorist, his lawyer says.

In rejecting an interview request from The Canadian Press, Correctional Service Canada said such access might pose a security risk or be disruptive, and would undermine his correctional plan.

"CSC has determined that your request to interview federal offender Omar Khadr cannot be granted," Kyle Lawlor, acting media relations and outreach adviser, said in the rejection email.

Khadr's lawyer, Dennis Edney, accused the government of hiding his client from the Canadian public to paint him in the worst possible light.

"There appears to be a propaganda value to ensuring that Omar Khadr is not seen other than as a terrorist," Edney said from Edmonton.

"It's important that the public get an understanding beyond how he's portrayed by the government."

The Toronto-born Khadr, 26, has been housed in the maximum security Millhaven Institution west of Kingston, Ont., since his transfer last September to Canada from Guantanamo Bay, where he had already spent 10 years behind bars.

Khadr had pleaded guilty before a widely discredited military commission in October 2010 to five war crimes — among them killing a U.S. special forces soldier — committed as a 15 year old in Afghanistan. He was given a further eight years behind bars.

Since then, American appeal courts have thrown out two similar military commission convictions — essentially because conduct cannot be criminalized retroactively — casting doubt on Khadr's conviction.

Most of those who have spent time with Khadr over the past decade — among them prison guards, lawyers and mental-health professionals — have described him as a gentle, non-radicalized and pleasant young man who is keen to get on with normal life.

One notable exception was U.S. psychiatrist Dr. Michael Welner, who acted for the military commission prosecution. He branded Khadr as a dangerous, unrepentant jihadist.

Edney said Canada is acting in the same way as authorities did at the U.S. naval prison in Cuba.

"Detainees such as Omar were never able to have visitors, speak to human rights organizations, or meet the press to publicly express who they were and the injustice of the imprisonment," Edney said.

"(Khadr) is a victim who suffered 10 years of horror in Guantanamo Bay, and the government continues to victimize him by keeping him in maximum security at Millhaven prison."

Canadian inmates may speak to journalists, although prison guidelines allow restrictions. In one example, B.C. serial killer Robert Pickton was granted one media interview before authorities barred further access to him.

Corrections refused to discuss the thinking behind the Khadr rejection.

However, Lawlor's email cites sections of "commissioner directive 022," which lays out conditions under which prison authorities may allow a journalist to talk to an inmate.

"It will not be contrary to the objectives of the offender's correctional plan," the section states.

A "correctional plan" is the approach prison authorities take with a prisoner with a view to his or her early release.

Also, a media interview may be granted if it can be done with "minimal disruption to the functioning of the operational unit and will not jeopardize the security of the operational unit or present a risk to the health and safety of any person."

Khadr is theoretically close to eligible for day parole and nudging toward full parole eligibility.

He has not made a release request, which would likely be denied given his classification as a maximum security inmate.

Rate this
This article has not yet been rated.

We want you to tell us what you think of our articles. If the story moves you, compels you to act or tells you something you didn’t know, mark it high. If you thought it was well written, do the same. If it doesn’t meet your standards, mark it accordingly.

You can also register and/or login to the site and join the conversation by leaving a comment.

Rate it yourself by rolling over the stars and clicking when you reach your desired rating. We want you to tell us what you think of our articles. If the story moves you, compels you to act or tells you something you didn’t know, mark it high.

Sort by: Newest to Oldest | Oldest to Newest | Most Popular 0 Comments

You can comment on most stories on brandonsun.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is register and/or login and you can join the conversation and give your feedback.

There are no comments at the moment. Be the first to post a comment below.

Post Your Comment

The Brandon Sun does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. Comments are moderated before publication. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.