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Full text of human rights watchdog Amnesty International
report which shows that UK armed forces in Iraq have shot and
killed Iraqi civilians, including an eight-year-old girl and
a guest at a wedding celebration, in situations where there was
no apparent threat to themselves or others.
Iraq: Civilians killed by UK armed forces and armed
groups
Press release by Amnesty International
UK armed forces in Iraq have shot and killed Iraqi civilians,
including an eight-year-old girl and a guest at a wedding celebration,
in situations where there was no apparent threat to themselves
or others, says a new report from Amnesty International.
The report also details political and so-called "moral"
killings in the UK-administered south, by armed groups and individuals:
former Ba'athists, professionals, alcohol sellers and shopkeepers
selling music and videos have reportedly been killed, yet no
prosecutions have been brought.
Many cases of civilian killings by UK armed forces have not
even been investigated. Investigations by the Royal Military
Police (RMP) have been secretive, with families given little
or no information about their progress. Amnesty International
is calling for a civilian-led investigation into all killings
by UK armed forces, with the findings made public.
"Far from being liberated, the people of Iraq continue
to live in fear and insecurity," Amnesty International said.
"Armed groups strike with seeming impunity. Killings
by UK armed forces, in situations where they should not be using
lethal force, are examined in secrecy and behind closed doors.
Instead of the UK armed forces deciding whether to investigate
themselves when people are killed, there must be a full, impartial
and civilian-led investigation into all allegations of killings
by UK troops."
The report, Killings
of Civilians in Basra and al-'Amara, is based on research
carried out by Amnesty International delegates in February and
March of this year. The organization interviewed families of
the deceased and eyewitnesses to the killings, Iraqi police officers
and Coalition Provisional Authority officials responsible for
law and order.
It details numerous killings by UK armed forces and armed
groups. One such case is that of eight-year-old Hanan Saleh Matrud,
reportedly shot by a soldier from B Company of the First Battalion
of the King's Regiment in August 2003. An eyewitness disputes
the UK army's claim that she may have been hit accidentally by
a warning shot. He told Amnesty International that Hanan was
killed when a soldier aimed and fired a shot at her from around
60 metres away.
In January this year Ghanem Kadhem Kati' a 22-year-old unarmed
man, was reportedly shot in the back outside his front door while
celebrating a family wedding. UK soldiers -- responding to the
sound of bullets fired into the air in celebration -- fired five
shots at him from 50 yards away, despite reportedly being told
by a neighbour not to fire and that the earlier shots were in
celebration. An RMP investigation is ongoing, but relatives have
not been informed about the procedures for claiming compensation.
Families are frequently given no information on how to lodge
a compensation claim for the killing of their relatives. In some
cases they are given wrong information, including that responsibility
for compensation would rest with a new Iraqi government. The
Area Claims Officer, to whom claims must be submitted, is situated
in an area difficult to access for ordinary civilians (Basra
airport) and there is little explanatory information provided
on the claims process in English or in Arabic. As a result, people
interviewed had little confidence in the compensation system.
The report reveals killings of people, mainly Christians,
involved in the alcohol trade. Licensed liquor sellers have been
killed and their stores closed down. Sources report that around
150 Christian families have fled Basra. On 15 February 2004 a
gang of 13 masked men opened fire with machine guns in the main
street, in an area where alcohol was frequently sold, killing
at least nine people.
"All armed groups and individuals in Iraq must respect
the right to life and cease these killings immediately. The rule
of law must prevail," Amnesty International said. "If
there is to be true security in Iraq, it is essential that justice
be done."
Amnesty International welcomes efforts by the UK and other
governments to strengthen the capacity of the Iraqi police force.
Yet this must be matched by a willingness of the police to act
in all cases of law-breaking. Not a single prosecution has been
brought for 'political' killings and some police officers told
Amnesty International that they felt the killing of former Ba'athists
was justified.
Click here
for the full Amnesty International report.
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