Omar Khadr, a convicted terrorist appeared on the CBC funded program “Tout le monde en parle” (Everyone’s talking about it) on Easter Sunday.
Khadr, who is a convicted terrorist responsible for the death of US Army Sergeant Christopher Speer, was one of a number of guests on the show.
During the segment titled “Omar Khadr: dreaming of an ordinary life”, Khadr entered the studio to general applause and a standing ovation from the audience.
Compared to the rest of the program which was cordial and full of humour, Khadr’s appearance was notably tense and serious.
The program’s host, Guy A. Lepage, questioned Khadr on a variety of different topics including his relationship with his father and former Al-Qaeda financier, Ahmed Khadr.
“No, I don’t resent him. I don’t think my dad knew the extent of what I was doing,” said Khadr about his time as a translator and operative of the terrorist cell.
Shortly after Sgt. Speer’s death, Khadr was captured by American troops and detained at Guantanamo Bay where he confessed to the crime.
Several years later, Khadr was allowed to return to Canada where he sued the federal government for abusing his human rights.
Khadr was awarded $10.5 million by the federal government. The decision was justified by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who claimed that the government would have “inevitably lost” an expensive ongoing legal battle.
When questioned on the settlement, Khadr suggested that it was in the best interest of “all Canadians”.
“I think this settlement is not only for me, it’s for every Canadian,” said Khadr. “I know some people might be offended by it, but I think it’s for all of us.”
Since receiving the lawsuit payout, Khadr has used $3M of his settlement money to purchase an Edmonton shopping mall.
Speer’s wife who was left to tend after their children, has pursued her own civil suit against Khadr for the death of her husband. A Utah court judged that Speer’s widow, Tabitha Speer was eligible for a $134 million settlement in the case. Her lawyers are calling on an Alberta court to enforce the US judgement.
“No court anywhere, either in Canada or the U.S., has found the (agreed statement) specifically was involuntary or the product of coercion,” claims her lawyers.
Since being freed from prison, a Canadian court has recently released Khadr from his sentence, making him a free man.
