Amnesty International asks Harper to bring Khadr home

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OTTAWA — Amnesty International has written an open letter to Prime Minister Stephen Harper calling for the repatriation of Canadian Omar Khadr from the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay.

"While the responsibility for closing Guantanamo Bay in a manner consistent with international human rights requirements rests with the U.S. administration, other countries should assist and cooperate in that effort," the letter states.

The human rights organization plans to deliver a petition signed by 50,000 Canadians to Harper today, asking the Conservative government to bring Khadr home.

The letter urges Harper to make three Guantanamo-related concerns a topic of discussion with U.S. President Barack Obama when he visits Ottawa Feb. 19 and to tell him that Canada is ready to participate in solving the problems.

"We urge that you immediately make a request to U.S. government officials for the repatriation of Omar Khadr to Canada, where his case will be dealt with under Canadian law in a manner that recognizes his status as a child soldier," the letter says.

Khadr was 15 years old when he was charged in the death of U.S. Sgt. Christopher Speer during a 2002 firefight in Afghanistan. He has been held at Guantanamo ever since.