The UK CPI investigates abuses during the Iraq war

The International Criminal Court (ICC) has opened a preliminary investigation into alleged war crimes committed by British troops against Iraqi soldiers between 2003 and 2008, during the Iraq war. It is the first time that the ICC prosecutor thus analyzes the UK, although the case was already in his hands in 2006. Then chief prosecutor, Luis Moreno Ocampo, decided to archive for lack of evidence. His successor, Fatou Bensouda, received in January new data submitted by British lawyer Phil Shiner (specializing in human rights), and a German NGO, and resolved back.

The new file has 400 pages and documents more than 60 alleged mistreatment that the court should examine to see if you are asking judges to open a full-blown case. Although Iraq is not part of the Court, it does have jurisdiction over any crimes committed by other Member States in their territory.

The preliminary phase of an investigation does not imply that there has been a crime, but the British Attorney General, Dominic Grieve, has already strongly rejected any government involvement in the abuse. He also stated that it will collaborate with the Court “to show that the British justice has been respected in this case.” The European Centre for Human Rights, the German NGO that has assisted in the compilation of the report says that there was unlawful killings and systematic torture. In his notes quotes former British Defense Minister Geoffrey Hoon, and former Secretary of the Army, Adam Ingram, both Labour and active in the Cabinet of then Prime Ministers Tony Blair and his successor, Gordon Brown.

United Kingdom is a member of the Rome Statute, the founding text of the ICC since 2001, and the decision of the prosecutor Bensouda can damage the image of London. Preliminary investigations are conducted when the country in question may or may not want, do not do it yourself. If successful, the case, the British government would be in the same list as Afghanistan, Guinea or Georgia. There also alleged international crimes, whether of war and against humanity, genocide also investigated. The three that fall within the permanent ICC since its opening in 2002.

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Posted by Khalil Khan on May 16 2014. Filed under Europe. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.