NEW: Official figures acquired by @CeasefireCentre reveal that since 2001 there has only been ONE prosecution of UK armed forces personnel for war crimes overseas. Astonishing in light of #ICC decision today. THREAD
https://www.ceasefire.org/official-figures-reveal-only-one-prosecution-of-uk-armed-forces-personnel-for-war-crimes-overseas-since-2001/

The MoD figures we release today show that, in addition to one war crimes prosecution, over two decades only 5 prosecutions were conducted for ‘other offences allegedly committed against members of the local population’ in Iraq and 9 in Afghanistan. /2
https://www.ceasefire.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/FOI2020_06821-Response-V2.pdf

These figures demolish the argument that the #OverseasOperationsBill is needed to end the ‘circle’ of war crimes prosecutions. War crimes and torture, along with sexual crimes, should now be exempted from the Bill’s proposed ‘triple lock’ on prosecutions after five years. /3

The sole UK war crimes prosecution relates to the #BahaMousa case, in which 3 soldiers were charged with inhumane treatment under the ICC Act 2001 and one convicted. An autopsy on Mr Mousa’s body recorded 93 separate injuries. /4
https://www.ceasefire.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Seven-myths-about-UK-military-abuses-in-Iraq.pdf

The ICC Prosecutor will not open an investigation but did find evidence of war crimes (below). Findings that led to the Brereton report on Australian special forces also implicated British and US forces. We need full transparency on the UK’s record in Iraq and Afghanistan. /END