ICC drops case into UK war crimes in Iraq
Murtaza Jaffer
Press TV, London
The international criminal court has formally abandoned its long-running inquiry into claims that British troops committed war crimes in Iraq between 2003 and 2008.
Chief prosecutor Fatou Bensouda said there was a “reasonable basis to believe” that atrocities were committed by the British armed forces, But concluded that there was no proof that UK authorities had blocked any investigations or were unwilling to pursue them.
Despite acknowledging attempts to carry out investigations, Bensouda confirmed that no charges had been brought against any soldiers a conclusion she described as “depriving the victims of justice”.
Human rights Campaigners have slammed the decision highlighting that the ICC exists to provide an alternative forum for justice where it is deemed that domestic courts and agencies have failed to fulfil their proper legal functions.
Legal adviser to Human Rights Watch Clive Baldwin criticized the ICC’s decision and said the UK government had repeatedly shown little interest in investigating and prosecuting atrocities committed abroad by British troops. He even detailed The Ministry of Defense blocking UK inspectors trying to visit UK detention centers where its alleged torture and rape took place. He added The prosecutor’s decision to close the UK inquiry will doubtless fuel perceptions of an ugly double standard in justice: one approach to the powerful and quite another for those with less clout.”
The UK’S defense secretary, Ben Wallace, welcomed the decision saying it proved the UK is willing to deal with claims of wrongdoing by armed forces. For many however the decision does more damage to the reputation of the International Criminal Court who have been labeled as only effective when it comes to leaders in the developing world.
Some may say the ICC finds themselves between a rock and a hard place. earlier this year the trump administration sanctioned Chief prosecutor Bensouda for investigating US war crimes in Afghanistan. She vowed to continue her efforts but its ultimately clear, western powers will hold other nations to international law but will not tolerate the same laws applying to their leaders and institutions.
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