France asks U.S. to drop charges against Khadr

Sometimes I am very surprised by events. Sarkozy is right wing and in general goes along with Bush policies. Perhaps sometimes some politicians simply act on principle.
I find it difficult to explain otherwise why France would act in this way. The action should embarass Harper. Harper portrays himself as a champion of human rights but in Khadr's case he has steadfastly refused to defend the rights of a Canadian citizen while France defends his rights! I expect that Harper will just shrug the matter off. After all, Khadr is a member of a notorious Canadian terrorist family and there is not likely to be an outpouring of sympathy for him or any voter backlash.

France asks U.S. to drop charges against Khadr
Last Updated: Thursday, January 24, 2008 | 11:13 AM ET
CBC News
The government of France is urging the United States to drop charges against Canadian terror suspect Omar Khadr, saying he should be treated as a minor.

Pascale Andreani, a spokeswoman for France's Foreign Ministry, told reporters in Paris Wednesday that France considers any child associated with an armed conflict a victim. Khadr, who was 15 when he was captured in Afghanistan in 2002, is being held at the U.S. military prison in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

Omar Khadr is shown in a 2002 file photo, at the age of 15, around the time he was captured by U.S. forces in Afghanistan. He has been detained at the U.S. military prison in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
(Canadian Press) She said France considers "all children associated with an armed conflict … should be treated accordingly."

"As a minor at the time of the events, Mr. Khadr must be given special treatment — a point on which there is a universal consensus," Andreani said.

Khadr is expected to be tried by a military tribunal later this year on charges he killed a U.S. soldier with a hand grenade.



Under a United Nations protocol, fighters under 18 years of age are defined as child soldiers.

Khadr's American military lawyer Lt.-Cmdr. Bill Kuebler said France appears more interested in the rights of a Canadian prisoner than Canada.

"I think the clear violation of international law is what is of concern to the populations of Europe," he said.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper has so far refused to follow the lead of other Western countries, which successfully lobbied to have their nationals at Guantanamo returned home.

Foreign Affairs Minister Maxime Bernier has not responded to France's show of support for Khadr. A spokesperson at the department sent CBC News a statement written months ago that said: "Questions regarding whether Canada plans to ask for the release of Mr. Khadr are premature … as the legal and appeal processes are still ongoing."