In a landmark judgement today, the UK high court today ruled that an Iraqi who died while in British custody in Iraq was entitled to the full protection of the European Convention on Human Rights. In a ruling which has wide ranging implications, the judges effectively ruled that prisoners taken by British troops abroard fell under British judicial juristician, and hence the European Convention for Human Rights applies. This means that all deaths must have full open enquiries, all forms of imprisonment must meet EU standards, all forms of torture are strictly illegal, and most importantly of all, soldiers are accountable in teh European courts for their actions.
The judges did give some good news for the UK government though when they also ruled that any deaths outside of custody did not come under the European Convention on Human Rights as they occurred in a foreign soveign state.
There is now a legal requirement on the UK government to investigate fully and openly, any deaths and to punish any soldiers found guilty of torture. A good day for human rights in UK occupied areas of Iraq.
Paul.