10.30am
Human rights law applies in Iraq killing, lords rule
Matthew Weaver
Wednesday June 13, 2007
Guardian Unlimited
The House of Lords has delivered a resounding blow to British conduct in the war in Iraq by ruling that human rights law applies in the case of an Iraqi civilian killed by UK troops.
The law lords decided that the UK was obliged to conduct an independent investigation into the death of Baha Mousa, who died in British custody in Basra in 2003.
In a four to one verdict, the lords ruled that the UK's obligations under the European Convention on Human Rights applied to the conduct of British troops.
They upheld a court of appeal ruling of December 2005 that the UK authorities had "extra-territorial jurisdiction" concerning Mr Mousa, a 26-year-old hotel worker.
But the families of five other Iraqi civilians killed in different incidents in Basra, who were not being detained, were told their cases were not covered by UK human rights law.
More on the story here.
House of Lords judgment here.
A mixture of law, politics, autobiography and humour. Once described as "The Devilish Advocate" (Guardian), I do have the ability to provoke a response. Sometimes it comes from someone who uses a thought process, and sometimes from jerks usually associated with the knee.
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