Omar Khadr's bid to ease bail conditions adjourned

The case of former Guantanamodetainee OmarKhadrwas expected to be back in an Edmonton courtroom on Thursday but was adjourned until mid-September

The hearing would have seen Khadrseek to ease his bail conditions, including a prohibition on contacting his controversial older sister.However, on Thursday morningKhadr's lawyer NateWhitlingsaid the federal Crown wasn't ready to proceed.

In an interview Wednesday, Whitling said Khadrshould have his bail conditions eased.

"Mr. Khadr has been living under these conditions for a number ofyears and he's demonstrated quite clearly that he's not a threat of any kind to the community," Whitling said.

"He's obeyed all of his conditions, he hasn't gotten into any trouble.So it's now apparent there's no need to continue any of these conditions."

Khadr, 30,has been on bail for the past two years, pending an appeal of his convictions by a U.S. military commission for war crimes. But that case has not "advanced even one inch," Whitling said, so Khadr anEdmonton resident and recently married could be on bail for years to come.

• 'I wish to become independent': Khadrseeks bail changes

In an affidavit, Khadrsaid he hasbeen accepted to a nursing program in Alberta and wishes to put his legal matters behind him. The federal government recently paid Khadra$10.5-million settlement for its role in his treatment at the American military base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

"I am a law-abiding citizen and I wish to live free of court-imposed conditions," Khadr wrote.

The bail conditions stipulate he can onlyhave restricted visits with his sister,Zaynab Khadr, and only with prior written approval of his bail supervisor.

Zaynab Khadr, 37, became a notorious figure in Canada after she made comments that appeared to support theattacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

She grewup in Canada and Pakistan, but now lives in Sudan, after spending time in Turkey, Malaysia, and Egypt. She has been married several times and recently had a fourth child, according to court documents.

She was born in Ottawa but was for some time unable to get a Canadian passport after frequently reporting hers lost.

OmarKhadrwrote that he wantsto spend time with her when she visits Canada.

"He's a free-thinking adult," Whitling said of his client. "He's over 30 years old, there's just no risk that could result with contact with Zaynab.

"He's demonstrated very clearly in the time since he'sbeen released that he's not a danger to anyone. Sothere's no real risk that his sister or anyone will somehowbrainwash him into becoming a terrorist."

Khadr is also asking to remove the restrictions on his internet access and wants to be permitted to travel freely within Canada.

• Khadr to stay out on bail after federal government drops appeal

Khadr pleaded guiltyto murder for the 2002 death of U.S. Sgt. Christopher Speer in Afghanistan, and to four counts related to terrorism. He made the pleasin Guantanamo Bay in 2010, where he endured torture and was imprisoned for years.

He was eventually released from American custody to serve the bulk of his eight-year sentence in Canada. The Canadian courts found he should be treated as a youth in the justice system because he was 15 when he was in Afghanistan.

Khadr was first granted bail in April 2015. He has been back in court several times since for different reviews of his bail conditions, such as the removal of an electronic monitoring bracelet and a relaxing of hiscurfew.