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Law Activists Press PM on Omar Khadr
Lawyers Against the War - The letter, which is being circulated for signatures by Lawyers Against the War (LAW), had signatures from a wide spectrum of people in Canada, the U.S. and Europe, including lawyers, academics, and peace and social justice advocates. Such diverse groups as the Canadian Arab Federation, Jews for a Just Peace, the U.S. National Lawyers Guild and several Canadian trade union committees were represented in the list of signatories. The letter was sent to Harper and all members of Parliament July 30, although LAW spokesperson Gail Davidson of Vancouver, B.C., said more signatures will be gathered and they will also be presented to the government at a later date.
More than 100 individuals and activist leaders have signed a new letter to Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Members of Parliament demanding the immediate release and repatriation of Canadian Omar Khadr from Guantanamo Bay.
The letter cited a long list of "incontrovertible evidence" documenting its assertion that Khadr's rights under international law have been violated by his U.S. captors, and that Canada's failure to intervene is itself a violation of international and Canadian law. It said the Harper government's assertion that Khadr must 'exhaust U.S. remedies' first is "at best...ignorance of the law; at worst...an intention to participate in continuing violations" of obligations under both international and Canadian law.
The letter, which is being circulated for signatures by Lawyers Against the War (LAW), had signatures from a wide spectrum of people in Canada, the U.S. and Europe, including lawyers, academics, and peace and social justice advocates. Such diverse groups as the Canadian Arab Federation, Jews for a Just Peace, the U.S. National Lawyers Guild and several Canadian trade union committees were represented in the list of signatories. The letter was sent to Harper and all members of Parliament July 30, although LAW spokesperson Gail Davidson of Vancouver, B.C., said more signatures will be gathered and they will also be presented to the government at a later date.
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CONTACT: Gail Davidson, Tel: 604 738-0338; FAX 604 736-1175
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