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Nine Captured Iraqis Were Mistreated in British Custody, Report Says Nine Iraqis Were Mistreated in British Custody, Report Says
(about 11 hours later)
LONDON — Nine Iraqis who were captured by British soldiers after a battle during the Iraq war in 2004 were mistreated, but allegations of murder and torture amounted to “deliberate and calculated lies,” according to an official report released on Wednesday. LONDON — Nine Iraqis who were captured by British soldiers after a 2004 battle during the Iraq war were mistreated, but allegations of murder and torture amounted to “deliberate and calculated lies,” according to an official report released Wednesday.
As many as 20 Iraqis were killed and mutilated after a fierce gun battle, according to claims from some of the detainees, their relatives and other Iraqi witnesses, but those allegations were withdrawn this year. The inquiry’s report said many of the claims against the British were prompted by “reckless speculation and ingrained hostility.”As many as 20 Iraqis were killed and mutilated after a fierce gun battle, according to claims from some of the detainees, their relatives and other Iraqi witnesses, but those allegations were withdrawn this year. The inquiry’s report said many of the claims against the British were prompted by “reckless speculation and ingrained hostility.”
Nevertheless, the investigation also concluded that the nine Iraqi detainees, while in British custody, were at times subjected to “actual or possible ill treatment.” Nevertheless, the investigation concluded that the nine Iraqi detainees, while in British custody, were at times subjected to “actual or possible ill treatment.”
The findings follow a report released last week by a United States Senate committee, which declared that the C.I.A.'s use of torture on terror suspects violated American values and produced little or no useful intelligence. The findings follow a report released last week by a United States Senate committee, which declared that the Central Intelligence Agency’s use of torture on terrorism suspects violated American values and produced little or no useful intelligence.
The British inquiry found no examples of torture of the kind meted out to prisoners by American interrogators, as described in the Senate panel’s report. The British inquiry found no examples of torture like those described in the Senate report.
The results of the British investigation follow a lengthy and detailed inquiry about one specific incident that took place in 2004. The inquiry was established in 2009 and led by a senior British judge, Thayne Forbes, at a cost of more than 24 million pounds, or nearly $38 million. The lengthy and detailed inquiry focused on one specific situation in 2004. Established in 2009 and led by a senior British judge, it cost more than 24 million pounds, or nearly $38 million.
The report cleared the British forces of the worst charges against them, and highlighted the context in which the Iraqis were captured, near the small town of Majjar al-Kabir, on the main road linking Basra and Al Amarah in southeastern Iraq. The report cleared the British forces of the worst charges against them and highlighted the context in which the Iraqis were captured, near the small town of Majjar al-Kabir, on the main road linking Basra and Al Amarah in southeastern Iraq.
The Iraqis were captured after heavily armed Iraqi insurgents, including the nine detainees, ambushed the British troops. The Iraqis were “bent on inflicting as much death, injury and damage upon British forces as they could,” the inquiry’s report said. The Iraqis were captured after heavily armed insurgents, including the nine detainees, ambushed the British troops. The Iraqis were “bent on inflicting as much death, injury and damage upon British forces as they could,” the inquiry’s report said.
The report did, however, paint a picture of intimidation and abuse during the arrival and interrogation of the Iraqi prisoners at Camp Abu Naji on May 14, 2004. The report painted a picture of intimidation and abuse during the arrival and interrogation of the Iraqi prisoners at Camp Abu Naji on May 14, 2004.
The men were strip-searched without adequate privacy, the report said, and stood naked in the processing tent in front of other soldiers. The men were strip-searched without adequate privacy, the report said, and they stood naked in the processing tent in front of other soldiers.
A blindfolded prisoner would be left standing in a tent before an interrogator would break the silence by drumming his fingers on the table or whistling, the report said. The interrogator would then walk around the detainee in silence, blowing on the back of the detainee’s neck. Finally, he would bang on a table with a metal tent peg to startle the detainee before removing the blindfold.A blindfolded prisoner would be left standing in a tent before an interrogator would break the silence by drumming his fingers on the table or whistling, the report said. The interrogator would then walk around the detainee in silence, blowing on the back of the detainee’s neck. Finally, he would bang on a table with a metal tent peg to startle the detainee before removing the blindfold.
The report also criticized the use of radio static, sleep deprivation and forced medication, and unsatisfactory arrangements for lavatory visits during which one prisoner might have remained handcuffed. The report also criticized the use of radio static, sleep deprivation and forced medication, and unsatisfactory arrangements for lavatory visits, during which one prisoner might have remained handcuffed.
The inquiry dismissed the more serious allegations of murder and torture, calling them “the product of deliberate and calculated lies” by some of those who testified. But the inquiry called the allegations of murder and torture “the product of deliberate and calculated lies” by some of those who testified.
“Other false allegations were the result of inappropriate and reckless speculation on the part of witnesses,” the report said.“Other false allegations were the result of inappropriate and reckless speculation on the part of witnesses,” the report said.
Some of the most serious allegations were made by relatives of a 19-year-old detainee, Hamid al-Sweady, who asserted that the British military killed him after he was captured. The overall inquiry was named after Mr. Sweady. Some of the most serious allegations were made by relatives of a 19-year-old detainee, Hamid al-Sweady, who asserted that the British military had killed him after he was captured. The overall inquiry was named after Mr. Sweady.
Michael Fallon, Britain’s defense secretary, said that it was regrettable that an expensive public inquiry was necessary, but that he was
satisfied that the documented instances of ill treatment would not occur today “thanks to changes made since 2004.”