Politics
Khadr's family avoids reporters, neighbours have mixed feelings

Credits: file photo

MARYAM SHAH | QMI AGENCY

TORONTO – Convicted terrorist Omar Khadr's possible return to his family's Toronto home drew a mixed reaction Saturday from other residents.

Some said they were alarmed by their potential neighbour, but one resident who's lived there for three years is indifferent to the young Khadr's return to Canada.

"They can do whatever they want," Joseph Anthony said, adding it wouldn't bother him if Omar Khadr moved in to the highrise.

He hasn't seen the Khadrs in a week as they "don't socialize" and "don't communicate with anybody," Anthony said.

Flown into Canada on U.S. government aircraft Saturday morning, Khadr is currently at Millhaven maximum-security prison in Bath, Ont. but upon his release it is expected he would stay with family members.

Knocking at an apartment where his mother and sister were known to reside did not receive any response.

Chatter behind the door was occasionally interrupted by bouts of loud Arabic music.

Spokesman Waseem Khan from a group called Friends of Khadr said concerned members will meet

Saturday and see if the family needs anything.

"What really needs to be focused on is the fact that he was a child and that's what concerned us the most," Khan said.

"The fact that, basically, a child was kept in Guantanamo Bay and he should have been treated as a child soldier according to the United Nations."

Ron Banerjee from Canadian Hindu Advocacy said while Khadr "should have stayed in Gitmo," legislative proceedings should have begun against his family.

"That would've solved the problem of Omar Khadr himself in the sense that if he was returned, he wouldn't have any family to go to," Banerjee said.

Opposite Khadr's grandfather's home, longtime resident Rich Dannys said he doesn't have any feelings about Khadr's return.

"I've always felt bad for the grandfather because he's really a very devout Muslim, not a radicalized Muslim," Dannys said.

A Sun News Network reporter was met with "Not interested, go away" when she first knocked on the door.

As other reporters joined her, a voice inside the house hurled an expletive and said: "I've asked you not to step on the property, last time!"

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