Blair urged officials to shield UK soldiers from civil courts

Newly released UK government files indicate that former Prime Minister Tony Blair pressured officials to prevent British soldiers accused of abusing Iraqi detainees from facing trial in civil courts. The documents reveal Blair’s insistence that the case against soldiers involved in the death of Baha Mousa, an Iraqi civilian, should not be handled by the International Criminal Court or civilian prosecutors. Corporal Donald Payne was later court-martialed for his role in mistreating Mousa and became the first British soldier convicted of a war crime. The files suggest Blair’s desire to shield British troops from accountability for their actions during the Iraq War.

Want More Context? 🔎