Baha Mousa Inquiry findings revealed

Summary

‘The Report of the Baha Mousa Inquiry’ (HC 1452) details findings of the investigation into an Iraqi civilian’s cause of death whilst detained by British troops eight years ago.

On 15 September 2003, 26-year-old Baha Mousa died in a detention facility in Basra, Iraq; a combination of his weakened physical state and a final struggle with the guards working at the facility led to his death, the report finds.

The terms of reference for this Inquiry were to investigate and report on the circumstances surrounding the death of Baha Mousa and the treatment of those detained with him at the 1st Battalion, The Queen’s Lancashire Regiment Battle Group Main (BG Main).

Sir William Gage's report takes account of previous investigations that have already taken place, in particular where responsibility lay for approving the practice of conditioning detainees by any members of the 1st Battalion, The Queen’s Lancashire Regiment in Iraq in 2003.

The three-volume report covers four key topics:

the history of the use of conditioning techniques (from the time of internment in Northern Ireland in the early 1970s up to and including March 2003);
Baha Mousa and other detainees;
training and the chain of command; and
the future – what has happened since 2003 is considered in relation to conditioning techniques.

Baha Mousa died with 93 injuries in custody in Basra in 2003. His relatives claim he was beaten to death by troops.

The Inquiry has criticised the conduct of individual soldiers, senior army officers, their legal advisers and failures in the chain of command.

The lack of training and preparation British troops received for the invasion of Iraq is also highlighted.

The report found that systematic abuse of civilians by British troops did not happen.

There are 64 recommendations to the Ministry of Defence (MoD) including that the MoD should keep its current absolute prohibition on the use of hoods on captured personnel. Arguments for the ban are overwhelming and a return to their use is difficult to justify.

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