British soldiers refuse to fight in a war involving the deaths of innocent civilians

Two British soldiers are facing a court martial after refusing to fight in the war against Iraq for moral reasons.

The men, both from 16 Air Assault Brigade, have been sent home and face up to two years in jail for disobeying orders. Their comrades have been locked in heavy fighting in southern Iraq.

The men, a private and an air technician, told their commanding officers they could not fight in a war that involved the deaths of innocent civilians […]

Justin Hugheston-Roberts, the chair of Forces Law, a nationwide group of lawyers for soldiers, said: ‘These cases are being handled by a very experienced lawyer. They raise serous issues as to the conscience of the individual over and above the necessity to obey lawful commands.’

Gilbert Blades, a lawyer from Lincoln, said the Ministry of Defence had kept the cases quiet because it feared a public relations disaster.

The men are expected to use human rights legislation to defend themselves. Blades said Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights allowed the soldiers to ‘express their genuine concerns about the wisdom of prosecuting the war against Iraq.’

Source:www.scotlandonsunday.com