Abdulkareem Khadr
Abdulkareem Khadr in 2008
NationalityCanadian
Parent(s)Ahmed Said Khadr
Maha Elsamnah

Abdulkareem Khadr (in Arabic عبد الكريم خضر) (b. March 29, 1989) is the youngest son in the Egyptian Canadian Khadr family. In 2003, he was with his father Ahmed Said Khadr during a shoot-out with Pakistani security forces. As a result, his father was killed and Adulkareem was left paralyzed. He returned to Canada the following year, and currently resides in Toronto, Canada with his mother Maha Elsamnah.

Early life

Before leaving for Tajikstan in 1994, the Saudi Muslim guerilla fighter and financier Ibn Al-Khattab gave Abdulkareem a rabbit of his own, which was promptly named Khattab. The rabbit's legs were injured during rough play with his youngest daughter Maryam, and the crippled Ahmed would often sit in the backyard, crying over it.[1]

Abdulkareem (left) and Omar (right).

Around 1999, while staying with the family of Ayman al-Zawahiri in Kandahar, the ten-year old Abdulkareem begged the al-Qaeda leader to let him hold his gun after he returned home one night. al-Zawahiri relented, and let him inspect the weapon.[2]

In 2002, he accompanied his older sister Zaynab to Lahore where her two-year old daughter needed medical attention. The siblings were later joined by Abdullah, since he required nose surgery.[1]

Firefight

Abdulkareem as a child, in the arms of his sister Zaynab.

On October 2 2003, Pakistani AH-1 Cobra gunships[3] and security forces attacked the house in the Pakistani region of South Waziristan where Abdulkareem, just 14 at the time, was staying with his father and seven others[4] including Hamza al-Jowfi, al-Iraqi, Khalid Habib and Qari Ismail. Pakistani authorities have stated that Abdulkareem was among the combatants.[5] He was paralysed after a bullet damaged his spinal cord, while another lodged in his arm.[3][4] The 17-year old Khalid Murjan Salim was arrested at the scene, the son of alleged militant Murjan Salim. Shortly thereafter, he was extradited to Egypt.[6][7]

He was taken to a military hospital in Rawalpindi and placed under surveillance as he recuperated.[8] He was shown photographs of the corpses found among the ruins of the house, but reports differed on whether he identified any as his father.[9]

In Canada

This article needs to be updated. Please help update this section to reflect recent events or newly available information. (December 2009)
Abdulkareem in 2004, after returning to Canada, built this mock-up of Disney's Black Pearl.

In January 2004, Pakistani authorities stated that Abdulkareem had expressed his desire to go home to Canada, and stated that they had no objections to the move.[5]

Canadian officials stated in February 2004 that they would not help offset the medical costs for Abdulkareem to travel home, which was estimated at $30,000,[4] although they would grant him a passport.[5] After entering the country on April 9, 2004, it was suggested that he may not be eligible for OHIP medical coverage, having lived outside of Canada for so long.[4] At the airport, upon his return, he made headlines by flashing a peace sign to gathered reporters.[8] Three months after returning to Canada he was legally eligible for care.[10]

Dr. Marty McKay, a private doctor who had never met the family, registered a three-page complaint a week later with the Children's Aid Society, alleging child abuse and possible brainwashing of Abdulkareem based on what she'd read in the media.[11]

In 2010, Abdulkareem Khadr, now 21 was charged with sexual assault and sexual exploitation, Toronto police spokesman said. The alleged victim was a 16 year old minor female at the time of the alleged event, but is now 18 years of age. On June 4, 2010 Abdulkareem Ahmed Khadr was arrested by the Canadian police. Later released, he is summoned to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice on July 15, 2010 to answer the charges. He denies all responsibility on the affair.[12]

References

  1. ^ a b Michelle Shephard, "Guantanamo's Child", 2008.
  2. ^ Wright, Lawrence, "The Looming Tower", 2006
  3. ^ a b Friscolanti, Michael. Macleans, "The house of Khadr, August 4, 2006
  4. ^ a b c d Thorne, Stephen. Canadian Press, "No help for 14-year-old son of Canadian al-Qaeda suspect paralysed in firefight"
  5. ^ a b c Thorne, Stephen. Canadian Press, "Pakistan to release wounded Cdn", January 26 3004
  6. ^ al-Shafi'i, Muhammad. Al-Sharq al-Awsat. "Egypt received three sons of al-Qaida and al-Jihad leaders", May 19, 2004
  7. ^ Amnesty International, Pakistan: Human rights ignored in the "war on terror", 2006
  8. ^ a b Yahoo news, "Two members of family that has been linked to al-Qaida return to Canada", April 9, 2004
  9. ^ The lonely world of al-Qaeda's wives, Canberra Times, April 4
  10. ^ Lunman, Kim and Colin Freeze. Globe and Mail, Khadrs' citizenship safe, PM says, April 16, 2004
  11. ^ CBC, Doctor wants Khadrs investigated on suspicion of child abuse, April 20, 2004
  12. ^ National Post: Sex assault charges mark new chapter in Khadr family saga

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