Military Tribunals

Trial for Youngest Gitmo Detainee

Against objections from human-rights groups.

After seven years, the youngest detainee at Guantanamo Bay will have his day in court—but should he have to? Omar Khadr, who was arrested when he was 15 for allegedly throwing a grenade that killed a U.S. soldier, will likely face war-crime charges, including murder, before a military tribunal in July. However, U.N. officials, human-rights groups, and defense attorneys argue that Khadr was indoctrinated as a child by his parents—his father was in Osama Bin Laden’s inner circle—and therefore he should be afforded the protections given to child soldiers. Namely, that means rehabilitation, not prosecution. Khadr’s case is likely to be the first full military commission trial under Obama.