Khadr money freeze request rejected by Toronto judge

TORONTO — A judge in Toronto has dismissed a request to freeze Omar Khadr’s assets.

Justice Edward Belobaba said the request for an injunction from the widow of an American soldier killed in Afghanistan was “extraordinary” and the decision to reject it was not difficult in law.

Tabitha Speer and a former U.S. soldier had asked for the injunction to preserve any money the federal government paid Khadr for breaching his rights. Ottawa reportedly paid the former Guantanamo Bay prisoner $10.5 million last week.

Speer’s legal action came as she seeks to have a Canadian court enforce a US$134-million award against Khadr from Utah.