Omar Khadr has been released on bail and one of the conditions of his freedom is that he must speak only English during phone calls.
The former Guantanamo Bay inmate was told by Judge Myra Biely he was “free to go” on Thursday after posting $5,000 bail in an Edmonton court.
The conditions to his release include:
- Khadr must wear an electronic monitoring device.
- Must live with his lawyer Dennis Edney and wife Patricia in Edmonton.
- Must observe a nightly curfew from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m.
- Cannot leave Alberta without prior approval, except to visit Edneys' vacation home in B.C.
- May only contact his family by telephone or video under Edneys' supervision, and chat must be in English.
- May only have in-person visits with his family with prior approval from bail supervisor.
- Any Internet access will be restricted and must be monitored and supervised.
Khadr's freedom comes after federal lawyers failed to making a convincing case of how his release would cause “irreparable harm” to Canada’s diplomatic ties with the United States.
In a letter to supporters published shortly after his release, the 28-year-old thanked people for sending in letters while he was behind bars for 13 years.
“It’s a gratifying feeling to belong to a place and to know that you are cared about and thought of. For that I’m eternally grateful to you, the city of Edmonton and its wonderful people.”
With files from The Canadian Press
ALSO ON HUFFPOST:
