Inquiry Rejects Torture, Murder Allegations Against British Troops

British Judge Declares Gravest Allegations an Iraqi Plot

After five years, Britain’s al-Sweady Inquiry, which was charged with investigating allegations British soldiers murdered Iraqis and tortured others has returned a verdict declaring the whole thing to be a lie concocted by Iraqis.

Judge Thayne Forbes said all of the most serious allegations were “entirely the product of deliberate lies, reckless speculation, and ingrained hostility.”

Lawyers representing former detainees had brought forward evidence of violations of the Geneva Convention provisions on battlefield detentions. Incredibly, even though Forbes insisted the allegations were lies, the recommendations included changes to detainee treatment, including providing them with adequate food and medical treatment.

British Defense Minister Michael Fallon says that the government intends to go after the Iraqi detainees now to recover the costs of investigating their allegations.

Author: Jason Ditz

Jason Ditz is Senior Editor for Antiwar.com. He has 20 years of experience in foreign policy research and his work has appeared in The American Conservative, Responsible Statecraft, Forbes, Toronto Star, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Providence Journal, Washington Times, and the Detroit Free Press.