NOT ON OUR SIDE

Deporting convicted killer wrong: U.N. (Toronto Star, 8/28/03)

A United Nations committee has ruled Canada shirked its international responsibilities when it deported a convicted killer to the United States in 1998 even though he faced a death sentence.

In a decision experts say is a giant step forward for human rights, the U.N. Human Rights Committee dismissed Canada's arguments that its decision to deport Roger Judge didn't constitute cruel and unusual punishment under the Charter of Rights.

The U.N. ruling, issued last week, said countries such as Canada that have abolished the death penalty are obliged to protect life in all circumstances.

"They may not remove, either by deportation or extradition, individuals from their jurisdiction if it may be reasonably anticipated they will be sentenced to death," the committee, said.

Just supposing that Osama bin Laden showed up in Montreal tomorrow--if the Canadians refused to deport him to the U.S. would anyone quarrel with sending the American military to take him by force? Posted by Orrin Judd at August 28, 2003 5:15 PM