Iraqi eyes plucked out by British, inquiry told

Mizal Karim Al-Sweady told the Al-Sweady Inquiry that injuries suffered by his son Hamid, 19, appeared to include signs of torture.

But Mr Al-Sweady, who has travelled to the UK to give evidence, has changed many of his claims, and the inquiry, in central London, heard there were numerous discrepancies between statements Mr Al-Sweady gave to Iraqi Police, the Royal Military Police (RMP) and the inquiry itself.

The inquiry is looking into claims that UK soldiers mistreated and killed Iraqis after the “Battle of Danny Boy” in May 2004.

It is alleged that Iraqis were unlawfully killed at Camp Abu Naji (CAN) near Majar-al-Kabir on May 14 and 15 2004, and five detainees were tortured and ill-treated both there and at Shaibah Logistics Base, where they were held for the next four months.

The claims are vigorously denied by the Ministry of Defence which says those who died were killed on the battlefield.

Hamid Al-Sweady, whom the inquiry is named after, is said to be one of the detainees who was killed. His father – the first of 15 witnesses travelling to the UK for the inquiry – began his evidence by showing inquiry chairman Sir Thayne Forbes a picture of his son.

Mr Al-Sweady said on the day of the battle, his son went into fields to study for a physics exam at about 3.30pm and disappeared.

The following day, bodies of a number of Iraqis were released by British forces, moved into Iraqi ambulances and taken to hospital.

Medical assistant Assad Mozan, who was working at the hospital in Majar-al-Kabir that day, also claimed he saw saw the bodies of Iraqis – who he described as martyrs – detained by British forces.

But like Mr Al-Sweady the inquiry heard that his account of what he saw had changed markedly in different statements since 2004.

The hearing continues today.