Seven British soldiers face war crimes charges
{{date|October 26, 2006}}

The first charges under the new [[w:U.K.|U.K.]] [[w:International Criminal Court Act (2001)|International Criminal Court Act]] have been brought against seven [[United Kingdom|British]] servicemen. The charges relate to the mistreatment of civilians and the death of Baha Mousa (26) a hotel receptionist in [[w:Basra|Basra]] in [[w:2003|2003]].

The charges include [[w:manslaughter|manslaughter]], [[w:inhumane treatment|inhumane treatment]], [[w:causing actual bodily harm|causing actual bodily harm]], and [[w:common assault|common assault]] of [[Iraq]]i civilians. A [[w:Warrant Officer|Warrant Officer]] and a [[w:Major|Major]] in the British [[w:Intelligence Corps|Intelligence Corps]] and the former commander of the [[w:Queen's Lancashire Regiment|Queen's Lancashire Regiment]] (now the [[w:Duke of Lancaster's Regiment|Duke of Lancaster's Regiment]]) are charged with  [[w:negligently performing duties|negligently performing duties]]. 

The first British serviceman to give evidence, a senior aircraftsman in the [[w:RAF|RAF]], testified that he saw prisoners with bags over their heads being kicked and verbally abused. He said that he had never seen anything like it before and didn't know what to do. He had not intervened "because they (the soldiers) were bigger than me, and I didn't know what their orders were". 

The [[w:court martial|court martial]] at the Military Court Centre, Bulford Camp, Wiltshire continues.

== Sources ==

*{{source|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6087960.stm
|title=RAF man 'saw troops abuse Iraqis'
|author=
|pub=BBC News Online
|date=October 26, 2006}}
*{{source
|url=http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceNews/PressCentre/2122006CourtMartialOfSevenBritishSoldiersOnChargesRelatedToTheDeathOfBahaMusa.htm
|title=212/2006: Court Martial of seven British Soldiers on charges related to the death of Baha Musa
|author=
|pub=MOD
|date=August 17, 2006}}

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[[Category:Politics and conflicts]]
[[Category:Crime and law]]
[[Category:United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Iraq]]
[[Category:Europe]]
[[Category:Middle East]]
The first charges under the new U.K. International Criminal Court Act have been brought against seven British servicemen. The charges relate to the mistreatment of civilians and the death of Baha Mousa (26) a hotel receptionist in Basra in 2003.

The charges include manslaughter, inhumane treatment, causing actual bodily harm, and common assault of Iraqi civilians. A Warrant Officer and a Major in the British Intelligence Corps and the former commander of the Queen's Lancashire Regiment (now the Duke of Lancaster's Regiment) are charged with  negligently performing duties. 

The first British serviceman to give evidence, a senior aircraftsman in the RAF, testified that he saw prisoners with bags over their heads being kicked and verbally abused. He said that he had never seen anything like it before and didn't know what to do. He had not intervened "because they (the soldiers) were bigger than me, and I didn't know what their orders were". 

The court martial at the Military Court Centre, Bulford Camp, Wiltshire continues.
Politics and conflicts Crime and law United Kingdom Iraq Europe Middle East