Passion Islam I February 2010 LOCAL & NATIONAL NEWS I 11
UK role in Iraqi grandmother’s
torture being probed
Britain’s military police are
investigating allegations that British
troops tortured and killed a 62-year-
old Iraqi woman in 2006.
Reports form an investigation
by Iraqi Lieutenant Haidar Yashaa
Salman from Al-Qibla police station
concludes that Sabiha Khudur Talib’s
body was dumped on a roadside in a
British body bag in November 2006.
“I saw the body in a brown dish-
dash [one-piece tunic], bare feet and
hands with marks of handcuffs. I saw
traces of torture on the body of the
victim. I saw a non-penetrated bullet
entry in the abdomen,” the Lieutenant
said in his report.
hours and that the family thought High Court against the MoD.
The findings are consistent with
their home was being attacked by “The possibility that British forces
the family’s claims who say the 62
criminals. in 2006 could have tortured and
grandmother had been led away alive
Soldiers began firing into the executed an innocent elderly woman
by British soldiers. The Ministry of
house for 20 minutes, killing one of should shock the nation,” Phil Shiner,
defense, however, says that Mrs. Talib
the victim’s sons, they say. They later the attorney representing the Iraqis,
had been caught in crossfire during
entered the house taking Mrs. Talib told The Independent on Monday.
the raid and died later in a military
with them “hit her on her back with It is one of the most serious
hospital. a rifle butt” and “shoved her into the charges levied against the British
The military has not been able to vehicle.” Army during its six-year occupation in
identify the hospital she was treated They next saw their mother in a southern Iraq.
at or to whom her body was handed. body bag dumped in a highway. The case is one of 47 accusations
Lawyers for the family who are Lawyers for the family have of rape, torture and physical assault
preparing for legal action in the High demanded a full inquiry into the made by Iraqis against British troops
Court in London against the MoD, November 2006 incident, adding that which are being investigated by the
say the house was raided in the early they are preparing legal action in the MoD.
Sun sued over ‘Terror case’ story
Dr Mohammed Asha, who was professional reputations, and left him Dr Asha says The Sun declined to
acquitted of terrorism charges following acutely distressed and traumatised. name the new location of an Al-Qaeda
the Glasgow airport bombing, is suing Thee newspaper story, and a suspect who had been deported,
News Group Newspapers for libel. website version, included pictures of but revealed his whereabouts with a
Asha is demanding damages for him taken covertly on hospital property, reckless indifference to his wellbeing.
alleged libel and invasion of privacy he says. ews Group Newspapers has
over two stories that appeared in The As a result of the danger created refused to respond to his claim, he
Sun which revealed he was working by stories, he says, he was offered says.
in an NHS casualty ward under his police protection and the hospital had Asha, who now lives in Kings Heath,
middle name, Dr Jamil. to ensure he was not the sole doctor Birmingham, is seeking aggravated
According to a writ filed at the High on duty at night because of his fear of damages for libel and misuse of
Court by lawyers working for Asha, he being attacked at work. private information and an injunction
believed one story that appeared on 10 According to the writ, Dr Asha banning repetition of the allegations at
August last year headed: “Terror case claims he was also asked to leave his the centre of his claim.
doc works in casualty” claimed there rented flat and could no longer live in He is also seeking special damages
were very strong grounds to suspect Shrewsbury because of fears for his which he says result from the stories.
that he will be involved in terrorist safety. This includes increased rent of £325 a
bomb plots in future and is an ongoing He also claimed his neurosurgery month, increases in utility bills, travel
threat to national security. training programme had been disrupted costs of £420 a month, £2,100 for a
Dr Asha says the stories and pictures after three hospitals were reluctant to car, and salary losses of around £300
seriously harmed his personal and employ him. a month.
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