Iraq deaths in British custody could see military face legal challenges
Thursday, July 1, 2010 at 02:05PM The Guardian
The Ministry of Defence is facing a further series of court battles that may shed more damaging light on the conduct of British troops in Iraq, after it emerged that many more civilians died in army custody than previously thought.
At least eight Iraqi civilians are now acknowledged to have died while being held by the British military after the 2003 invasion, including Baha Mousa, the hotel receptionist who was beaten to death while in army custody in Basra. Inquiries by lawyers representing a number of families of abused Iraqi civilians suggest the death toll may have been higher still.
In seven cases raised by the Guardian, the MoD is refusing to explain why the individuals were detained, or say where, how or why they died. Officials have refused even to disclose whether or not the deaths were investigated.
Next week, lawyers representing 102 Iraqi civilians will seek a judicial review of the MoD's refusal to hold a public inquiry into all cases of abuse of Iraqi civilians after the March 2003 invasion. The 102 individuals allege that they were victims of thousands of offences. It would be the third such inquiry.
The seven Iraqis whose unexplained deaths have been the subject of the Guardian's questions are:
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