Constructive Activities

"It would seem that Corrections Canada has taken into account the serious nature of the crimes that (Khadr) has committed and will continue to ensure the safety of Canadians is protected during incarceration."
Julie Carmichael, spokesperson, Ministry of Justice

Well, that's a relief.  After all, this is a man whose family subscribed to violent jihad, who took training as a jihadist, who fought alongside other mujahadeen against American forces in Afghanistan, and who after his time spent at the infamous Guantanamo Bay prison aging from youth to maturity is now back in Canada.

And, horrors, it will be only a relative few short months before Omar Khadr is released from maximum security incarceration into the general public. 

That time in a Canadian prison was to have been invested in the development of a strategy to turn him away from the extreme ideology that his father Ahmed invested him and his siblings with.  To turn him away from terrorism and aid him toward a journey to become a normal human being.  He aspires to medicine.

From an aspiring Islamist martyr to an inspired medical practitioner.  Quite the intellectual journey.

"It is reasonable to expect that some thought should have gone into this.  Aside from Khadr, the 11 convictions in the TO-18 case and the Khawaja case should have initiated some discussion or paperwork", commented Jez Littlewood, director, Canadian Centre of Intelligence and Security Studies, Carleton University.

Momin Khawaja, it might be recalled, is reputed to be doing his part while in incarceration, in recruiting other susceptible prisoners to the cause of jihad.

While a Corrections Services spokeswoman assured that federal inmates are assigned plans with specific goals to manage risks.  Involving restrictions on their movements and actions, and commitment to participate in "constructive activities" with a view to address the factors leading to the offences - and ultimately assisting in re-integration into society.

Mind, this appears to be a non-specific, generalized action plan for all criminal federal prisoners, not one specifically geared to address something like fanatical religious ideology with its commitment to violence and destruction. 

Justice Minister Vic Toews sounded quite reassuring back in September when he informed reporters that "Mr. Khadr has had very little contact with Canadian society and therefore will require substantial management in order to ensure safe reintegration into Canada."  Quite. We suspected as much.

John Morris, Omar Khadr's lawyer, informs that his client is not a "radical" requiring "de-radicalization".  He is a young man needing access to education and a return to society.  And the sooner the better.  Millhaven Institution is not the most charming place to be installed within, for a 26-year-old whom so many regard as having suffered a dreadful misfortune as a "child soldier".

He becomes eligible for full parole on July 1.  He has been, we are informed, a "model prisoner". 

We are reassured.