The International Criminal Court has recently decided to reopen their investigation in Iraq involving detainee abuse. The situation was previously addressed, but the Court decided to discontinue the case in 2006. However, this past January, the Prosecutor’s Office received information that points to acts by the United Kingdom from 2003 until 2008. The European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights and Public Interest Lawyers brought this new information to the attention of the ICC, which includes more detail regarding the circumstances around the abuse, including time and place, that can provide more support for a case against the United Kingdom. Re-opening the investigation will give the ICC an opportunity to verify the facts provided by these sources.
In 2006, the ICC decided that they failed to acquire enough information that would allow the court to investigate the matter, but the court left open the possibility to reconsider the decision if more information was provided. The new information provided this year points to 60 instances of unlawful killings and 170 instances of torture of Iraqis in British custody during the Iraq War. The two organizations that presented this new information also represented the family of an Iraqi hotel receptionist, Baha Mousa, who was killed in 2003 while being tortured by British troops.
While Iraq is not a state party to the ICC, the United Kingdom is, which allows the ICC to bring suit surrounding the situation. The ICC has jurisdiction over state parties for war crimes, genocide, and crimes against humanity. If the ICC decides to pursue a case against the UK, it would be the first time a western state would be prosecuted against. The ICC has notoriously brought suit against African nations, which has lead to strained relations with Kenya who wishes to withdraw from the ICC because of their alleged bias against African nations.
Do you think the new information provided to the ICC will be sufficient enough to bring a suit against the United Kingdom? How do you think other nations will respond to this case? Do you think particular UK officials will be prosecuted in this case?
Source:
[ICC]
Image:
[RT]
Investigating abuse is very important and because there were inadequate details in the previous investigation, reopening this case of abuse against the Iraqis was the right decision. Therefore, I am glad that the rumors of abuse are being verified. 60 unlawful killings is not something to brush under the rug, and neither are 170 instances of torture. Iraq has been in the news continuously for many indiscretions, but two wrongs do not make a right. Detainees should not be tortured and killed. Justice should be served in the courtroom and not through force. If the United Kingdom was prosecuted against, or warned even, it could set precedent for the rest of the countries since no western country was ever sued in the past. I do not believe that the ICC discriminated in the past against African countries, but I also do not believe that the United Kingdom should not be prosecuted simply because western states never were in the past. All abuse should be investigated.