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Islamic Human Rights Commission
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25 June 2006

Press Release: New Briefing on Haditha Massacre Assassinated by Democracy: The Haditha Massacre and US Culpability for War Crimes

IHRC’s latest briefing: ‘Assassinated by Democracy: The Haditha Massacre and US Culpability for War Crimes’ is now available on its website https://www.ihrc.org.uk/show.php?id=1908

The briefing discusses the nature of war crimes in relation to why 24 Iraqi civilians – women and children included – were recently killed by US Marine forces in Haditha, without warning or provocation.

The briefing notes that the deaths of the civilians in Haditha are indeed found to be targeted reprisal killings and the acts of the US marines are war crimes and make a mockery of the tapestry of laws that protect civilians in armed conflict.

IHRC Chair Massoud Shadjareh said:

“The Haditha Massacre sets a dangerous precedent that the ends justify the means and the means include killing innocent Iraqi civilians.”

The briefing calls on the international community to recognize that there is clear evidence to suggest that the US forces are committing torture which is violating basic human rights under international law.

For more information please contact (+44) 20 8904 4222, or (44) 7958 522196 or email:info@ihrc.org.

Islamic Human Rights Commission
PO Box 598
Wembley
HA9 7XH
United Kingdom

Telephone (+44) 20 8904 4222
Fax (+44) 20 8904 5183
Email: info@ihrc.org
Web: www.ihrc.org [ENDS]

info@ihrc.org