Iraq war: All but one war crimes claim against British soldiers dropped – BBC News
‘British soldiers who have been accused of committing war crimes in Iraq are unlikely to face criminal prosecution.’
BBC News, 2nd June 2020
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Category: war crimes
Why British Troops Must Not Be Placed Above The Law – Each Other
‘The outbreak of Covid-19 has demonstrated how quickly our established ideas and normalised ways of thinking can be changed. Work that was called ‘low-skilled’ is now recognised as ‘essential’, the nation has hailed nurses as ‘heroes’, and face masks are a part of routine life.’
Each Other, 22nd May 2020
Source: eachother.org.uk
Proposed amendments to the Human Rights Act to disadvantage UK war crimes victims – Oxford Human Rights Hub
‘On 18 March 2020, the UK Minister for Defence introduced into the UK Parliament his promised package of new legislation designed to ‘protect veterans’. Entitled the Overseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) Bill, the proposed laws would amend the UK’s Human Rights Act 1998 (HRA) in ways that impact on its human rights obligations, including under the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR).’
Oxford Human Rights Hub, 6th April 2020
Source: ohrh.law.ox.ac.uk
Torture charges against former Liberia leader’s ex-wife dismissed – BBC News
‘Torture charges against the ex wife of former Liberian president Charles Taylor have been dismissed at the Old Bailey.’
BBC News, 6th December 2019
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
International Criminal Court may investigate UK ‘war crimes cover-up’ – BBC News
‘The International Criminal Court could open its first investigation into the British military following a BBC programme about alleged war crimes.’
BBC News, 18th November 2019
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
New Judgment: R v TRA [2019] UKSC 52 – UKSC Blog
‘The appellant was arrested in the United Kingdom in 2017 and charged with one count of conspiracy to commit torture and seven counts of torture, contrary to the Criminal Justice Act 1988, section 134. The charges relate to events in the early stages of the first Liberian civil war in 1990 when an armed group, the National Patriotic Front of Liberia took control of parts of Liberia. Its leader, Charles Taylor, subsequently became President of Liberia in 1997. The point of law raised in the appeal related to the correct interpretation of the term “person acting in an official capacity” in the CJA, section 134(1). The Court of Appeal held that CJA, section 134 is not confined to individuals acting on behalf of a State.’
UKSC Blog, 13th November 2019
Source: ukscblog.com
Ep. 57: Mass starvation as a weapon of war – Law Pod UK
‘Rosalind English talks to 1 Crown Office Row’s Catriona Murdoch about the ways in which international law may be used to prevent it.’
Law Pod UK, 10th December 2018
Source: audioboom.com
ICC crime of aggression comes into effect without key signatories – The Guardian
‘A crime of aggression, under which politicians and military leaders can be held individually responsible for invasions and other major attacks, comes into force at the international criminal court, reviving global legal powers last exercised at the Nuremburg and Tokyo war crimes trials of the 1940s. Claims alleging that armed force has been used against the “sovereignty, territorial integrity or political independence” of another state can, from Tuesday, be taken to the tribunal in The Hague.’
The Guardian, 17th July 2018
Source: www.theguardian.com
Activists bring case at appeal court over UK arms sales to Saudis – The Guardian
‘Human rights campaigners have begun an attempt to overturn a high court judgment that allows the British government to continue to export arms to Saudi Arabia for use in Yemen.
The Campaign Against Arms Trade brought the case against Liam Fox, the international trade secretary, seeking permission to appeal against a decision last July that granting licences for the export of arms from the UK to Saudi Arabia was not unlawful. CAAT has warned that British weapons could be used to kill or injure Yemeni civilians.’
The Guardian, 12th April 2018
Source: www.theguardian.com
Telford pensioner investigated for Nazi war crimes – BBC News
‘A pensioner has become the first person from the UK to be investigated in Germany for his alleged role in the Holocaust in World War Two.’
BBC News, 20th March 2018
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Ministers ‘undermined law’ over Iraq war crimes allegations – The Guardian
‘The government has been accused of undermining the rule of law by putting pressure on an independent regulator in its action against a legal firm pursuing claims of human rights abuses involving British troops in Iraq.’
The Guardian, 22nd July 2017
Source: www.theguardian.com
Attorney General’s speech at the International Justice Day event – Attorney General’s Office
‘Attorney General discusses the importance of evidence gathering in Syria and Iraq to enable domestic prosecutions.’
Attorney General’s Office, 17th july 2017
Source: www.gov.uk/ago
Iraq war: judge to review Tony Blair prosecution ban – The Guardian
‘The most senior judge in England and Wales will hear a case attempting to overturn a ban on prosecuting Tony Blair over the Iraq war, the Guardian has learned.’
The Guardian, 5th July 2017
Source: www.theguardian.com
SAS soldiers ‘suspected’ of executing unarmed Afghans and covering up potential war crimes – The Independent
‘A “rogue” Special Air Service (SAS) unit is suspected of executing unarmed civilians in Afghanistan and fabricating reports to cover up potential war crimes, according to reports.’
The Independent, 2nd July 2017
Source: www.independent.co.uk
Date set for court challenge to ban British arms sales to Saudi Arabia – The Independent
‘A date has been set for a High Court court challenge that could halt British arms sales to Saudi Arabia – amid mounting accusations the country is committing war crimes’
The Independent, 28th October 2016
Source: www.independent.co.uk
Iraq War: Public Interest Lawyers closes down – BBC News
‘The law firm Public Interest Lawyers, which submitted multiple allegations of misconduct by British troops during the Iraq War, is to close.’
BBC News, 15th August 2016
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Hundreds of compensation claims against British soldiers could be abandoned after controversial law firm announces closure – Daily Telegraph
‘Hundreds of compensation claims against British soldiers are likely to be abandoned after a controversial law firm accused of “hounding” troops announced that it is closing.’
Daily Telegraph, 15th August 2016
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
How the Iraq Inquiry failed to follow the money – OUP Blog
‘In 2007, I published an article that sought to show in detail how the Iraqi economy had been opened up to allow the transformation of the economy and the routine corruption that enabled a range of private profit-making companies to exploit the post-invasion economy. The article argued that the illegal war of aggression waged by a ‘coalition’ headed by George Bush and Tony Blair was tied to a series of subsequent crimes of pillage and occupation. These included the transformation of the economy and the political system that was explicitly illegal under the terms of the Geneva and Hague Convention; and the mobilisation of political and economic instruments to ‘liberate’ the oil. The recently published Chilcot Report recognizes this corruption – and indeed UK joint legal responsibility for the corruption – and yet the evidence for it has been buried. – See more at: http://blog.oup.com/2016/07/iraq-inquiry-chilcot-money/#sthash.UiY9VxUh.dpuf
OUP Blog, 31st July 2016
Source: www.blog.oup.com
Outrage as war crimes prosecutors say Tony Blair will not be investigated over Chilcot’s Iraq war report – but British soldiers could be – Daily Telegraph
‘Prosecutors at the International Criminal Court will examine the Chilcot report for evidence of abuse and torture by British soldiers but have already ruled out putting Tony Blair on trial for war crimes.’
Daily Telegraph, 2nd July 2016
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
House of Lords Sexual Violence in Conflict Committee report: government response – official-documents.gov.uk
‘The government has now published its response to the report from the House of Lords Select Committee on Sexual Violence in Conflict.’
official-documents.gov.uk, 30th June 2016
Source: www.official-documents.gov.uk
