Spanish court open probe into killings in Iraq

[sabra]

Source: WP/AP

MADRID -- A Spanish judge has opened a probe into a melee in which Iraqi security forces are accused of killing 11 members of an Iranian exile group in a camp in Iraq in 2009, according to a court order obtained Tuesday by The Associated Press.

Judge Fernando Andreu, saying he is investigating possible crimes against humanity, called on Iraqi Lt. Gen. Abdol Hossein al Shemmari to appear March 8 before the National Court in Madrid to answer questions about the incident. The writ said Shemmari directed the attack on the camp.

In the document, Andreu said Spain was probing the issue because the court viewed as insufficient Iraq's claim that it was investigating. The judge had asked Iraq in December if it was investigating the case.

Under Spain's universal justice doctrine, grave crimes alleged to have been committed in other countries can be prosecuted here under certain conditions, such as when the country where a crime allegedly took place is not investigating.

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/04/AR2011010401263.html

[Uncle Joe]

1. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, sabra.

[bongbong]

2. Interesting, but.....

This is interesting, but how the heck are they picking the cases they choose to go after? Just looking at the war crimes of any one country (cough cough) could take millenia, even at the rate of one case a week.