Human rights extend to Iraq,

says Strasbourg

11/07/11 - In judgments of considerable potential significance, the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights has unanimously held that in the exceptional circumstances deriving from the UK's assumption of authority for the maintenance of security in South East Iraq from 1 May 2003 to 28 June 2004, the UK had jurisdiction under Article 1 ECHR in respect of civilians killed during security operations by UK forces in Basrah: Al-Skeini v United Kingdom (App. No. 55721/07). The Court held that there had been a failure by the UK to comply with its Article 2 ECHR obligations to conduct independent and effective investigations into the deaths of the relatives of the applicants before the Court. read more>>>

Press Release: Historic Judgment on British Army in Iraq