British Supreme Court: Our Forces Violated The Rights Of Civilians In Iraq

BAGHDAD, IRAQ (NINA) - The British Supreme Court ruled that "the UK forces violated the Geneva Convention on the Rights of Civilians during its participation in the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003. The verdict came 10 days after the International Criminal Court in Hague, Netherlands, ruled that there was "a reasonable basis to convict British forces of war crimes in Iraq." The British court said yesterday that its troops "dealt with civilians in brutal and inhumane ways, including covering them and walking over their backs." The court also condemned the British Ministry of Defense for the arrest of civilians by its troops following the invasion of Iraq, in violation of the Geneva Convention and the Human Rights Act, adopted by Britain in 1998. The 1949 Geneva Convention provides for the protection of fundamental human rights in the event of war, including the care of wounded, sick and prisoners of war, and the protection of civilians on the battlefield or in the occupied territories. The Supreme Court issued its decision after two trials, during which four Iraqis accused British forces of being subjected them to "unlawful detention and ill-treatment." "None of the four plaintiffs has been involved in terrorist acts and has not posed a threat to security in Iraq," Judge Justice Legate said. He added that "the British forces assaulted the detainees in humiliating ways, causing them harm and humiliation unjustified, motivated by fun for the perpetrators." Under the ruling, the four Iraqi civilians will be given £ 85,000 (about $ 113,000 and $ 200) in compensation for the inhuman treatment they have been subjected to. The demands of these Iraqis are a test of how to deal with 628 similar cases, according to the "Guardian". In 2016, 331 similar claims were settled without judicial proceedings, and the British Ministry of Defense paid 22 million pounds ($ 29.5 million) to the plaintiffs./ End