More Iraqi Camp Breadbasket victims instruct Leigh Day & Co

The  international  claims team at solicitors Leigh Day & Co has been instructed by more Iraqi civilians to pursue claims for damages against the Ministry of Defence (MoD) for alleged unlawful assaults and inhuman and degrading treatment by British soldiers during their detention at Camp Breadbasket, a food aid distribution  centre in  Basra, Iraq.

The team of lawyers returned from Damascus last weekend, after meeting with three clients who allege  that they were maltreated by British soldiers at the Camp in May 2003. The running of the Camp was taken over in whole or in part by British Forces just after the official end to hostilities had been declared.

To date Leigh Day & Co has been instructed by nine Iraqi civilians for alleged abuse at the Camp and we have managed to meet eight of our clients in Damascus or Istanbul over the past six months to take  their detailed instructions.   

Camp Breadbasket Incident

Soldiers from the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers had been taking part in an operation named “Ali Baba” which was aimed at stopping looting from the Camp.  As part of  “Operation Ali Baba”, it is understood that soldiers rounded-up Iraqi civilians outside the vicinity of the Camp and within the Camp. Our clients allege that despite protesting that they were either lawfully at the Camp, or had nothing to do with the Camp, they were violently beaten and physically assaulted by soldiers using cam-poles, wooden sticks, metal fist knuckles, fists and boots.  They claim that soldiers also shouted verbal abuse at them and repeatedly referred to them as “Ali Babas.”

It is understood that the Commander in charge of “Operation Ali Baba” had issued orders to his soldiers to “work them hard" (the captured civilians).  It is alleged that soldiers forced our clients to carry heavy crates of milk cartons and cement blocks over their heads and run around the Camp for more than half an hour until some of them collapsed from exhaustion. If the civilians rested the milk cartons and cement blocks on their heads, they were forcefully beaten by soldiers. Two civilians allegedly had their noses broken during these assaults.

Some of our clients  also described how they were forced to carry a large iron cage with Iraqi detainees in it for some distance. Others were made to collect rubbish strewn around the Camp.  The civilians were also wetted with dirty water, which caused them further humiliation and discomfort.

One of  our clients claimed to have had his hands tied and was placed on the prongs of a forklift truck, which was repeatedly raised and lowered. When this happened a large group of soldiers were said to have clapped and cheered on the soldier operating the forklift. Many junior non-commissioned officers (NCOs) and soldiers took various photographs, further humiliating our clients. Our clients do not appear to have been provided with adequate food, water or medical treatment during their detention. 

Our clients have been severely psychologically traumatised by events at the Camp, many of them unable to work as a result of what they experienced. Life in Iraq is obviously very hard given the current conflict but for our clients, what they experienced at the Camp has devastated their lives.

A court martial into conduct at Camp Breadbasket was held in Osnabruck, Germany in 2005.  The case received worldwide attention following the release of numerous photographs depicting the inhuman and degrading treatment to which civilians had been subjected.  These included photographs showing detainees forced to strip and appear to perform sexual acts with each other and one civilian being strung up in a net and tied to a forklift truck. 

As a result of the court martial, three soldiers were convicted on a variety of charges including assault; disgraceful conduct of a cruel kind; and prejudicing good order and military discipline.

Leigh Day & Co has  already commenced claims on behalf of the nine Claimants against the Ministry of Defence in the High Court of Justice in London. Defences to the claims are due in mid-June.

If you wish to speak with us about this case please contact Sapna Malik or Shubhaa Srinivasan at our offices on 020 7650 1222.