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| Iraq |
| British troops accused of executions and torture in Iraq |
| 2008-02-23 |
| Lawyers for five Iraqis have accused British soldiers of mass executions and torture and called for a police investigation into an “atrocious episode” in British army history. Phil Shiner and Martyn Day, who have brought several cases against the British military for its actions in Iraq, produced statements on Friday from five men who say they were detained by British forces after a battle in southern Iraq in May 2004. The men, who were blindfolded and bound, said their captors repeatedly beat and abused them, including forcing them to strip naked. While detained, they said they heard the systematic torture and execution of up to 20 other detainees. “On the basis of the evidence currently available, we are of the view that our clients’ allegations - that the British were responsible for the torture and deaths of up to 20 Iraqis - may well be true,” Day told a news conference. “Whether or not there is enough evidence to prosecute individual soldiers, it will only be by an open public inquiry that this question will be answered.” The military has already conducted its own investigation into the events surrounding the intense, two-hour battle between British troops and Iraqi insurgents, in which it says 28 Iraqi fighters were killed, and concluded there was no evidence of criminal wrongdoing. Shiner and Day say, on the basis of the witness statements and other evidence, that 29 people were detained, of whom 20 were killed in detention and nine were later freed. A second investigation, also by Britain’s military police, was opened last December after the families of some of the victims called for a judicial review. It is not known when that investigation will be concluded. As well as the witness statements, Shiner and Day produced photos, video footage and death certificates signed by Iraqi doctors that they said together painted a picture of violent, deadly abuse perpetrated by British troops. They said there was evidence that two detainees had their eyes gouged out, one had his penis cut off, several were strangled or mutilated, some were shot in the back of the head and others had body parts systematically broken. “What went on whilst UK forces had the custody of Iraqi civilians is a disgrace, a stain on our nation, and a terrible stain on the reputation of all the good soldiers who have operated in Iraq,” Shiner said. However, the lawyers acknowledged there was a vast gulf between the British military’s account of what happened and the witnesses’ accounts. They also said they did not know which regiment of the British army was most likely responsible. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #5 They also said they did not know which regiment of the British army was most likely responsible. In other words, they have no time or place for the event. If they had those details, they could determine the unit involved from them. |
| Posted by: Rob Crawford 2008-02-23 19:03 |
| #4 Well, me thinks these latest feces wrapped offerings are what they call in psychology "projection" you accuse others of thinking or acting as you do. If the Brits are actually doing this stuff, all I can say is "carry on mate" and "pass the popcorn" I say the best answer to terror is to fight terror with terror. I think Mao said that. I know that the Brits put down an islamofanatic uprising in Afghanistan in the 1850's with the "fight terror with terror" methodology...put an end to it for a while. Something about wrapping the enemy dead in pig hides and spraying prisoners with pig fat.... |
| Posted by: Senior Assistant Sock Puppet of Doom 2008-02-23 14:35 |
| #3 Any background on "Shiner and Day". |
| Posted by: Bright Pebbles 2008-02-23 11:04 |
| #2 Phil Shiner and Martyn Day, who have brought several cases against the British military Why I'm not surprised? |
| Posted by: g(r)omgoru 2008-02-23 08:45 |
| #1 The sadistic abuses cited sound much more like typical Iraqi conduct, than conduct by western forces. I know nothing about the actual case, but I can see Iraqi malcontents "projecting" their own sadistic practices onto the Brits. If the reports were of Iraqi dirtbags being beaten senseless with fists, and then shot, I would tend to be more inclined to believe that some Brit troopers finally got to the end of their patience. Next will come reports that the Brits beheaded their captives. |
| Posted by: Lone Ranger 2008-02-23 06:33 |