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British Soldiers ‘Tortured and
Killed’ 22 Iraqis
By DS
02/01/08 "DS" -- - BRITISH soldiers have been accused of
torturing 22 Iraqi citizens to death.
They are also said to have abused nine others held in their
custody.
The allegations of brutality, dating back to 2004, can now be
made public after a gagging order was lifted by a High Court
judge yesterday.
The order had prevented any details of the alleged torture being
reported by the Press or broadcast media.
It is alleged the abuse happened after British troops were
ambushed on the road from Amara to Basra.
Following a firefight, a 31-strong band of Iraqis are said to
have been seized by soldiers and taken into custody. They were
held at British headquarters in Abu-Naji in south-east Iraq.
Out of the 31 people detained only nine survived and they claim
they were subjected to torture. Iraqi death certificates are
said to state that the corpses of the Iraqis who were rounded up
showed signs of "mutilation" and "torture".
Now the bereaved Iraqi families and survivors are fighting for
compensation. They will seek a High Court ruling that the
Government is legally obliged to set up an inquiry into the
alleged abuse.
The gagging order was imposed last December by Lord Justice
Thomas, sitting with Mr Justice Silber. Lord Justice Thomas said
"adverse publicity" arising from the case would be "highly
undesirable". But yesterday, another senior judge, Lord Justice
Moses – also sitting with Mr Justice Silber – overturned the
ban.
He ruled that the proceedings should be "in the public domain".
Lawyers representing the Iraqis say statements from the alleged
victims are some of the most disturbing they have heard in 30
years.
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