LONDON, July 8 (UPI) -- London must recognize that human rights law doesn't end at its borders, Human Rights Watch said in response to a court ruling on Iraqi civilian deaths.
The European Court of Human Rights found in a unanimous decision that British forces accused of unlawfully killing Iraqi civilians during the early stages of the war were in violation of human rights law because they failed to investigate their deaths properly.
The case -- Al-Skeini and Others vs. the United Kingdom -- relates to the death of six civilians, including one who was beaten and forced into a river where he drowned. Another victim died at a military base with 93 injuries identified on his body, the European court said.
Clive Baldwin, a legal adviser to Human Rights Watch, in a statement said human rights laws are universal.
"The European Court has spoken clearly," he said. "Britain can't claim its soldiers have no human rights duties once they are in another country."
Amnesty International in a separate statement said it has longstanding concerns about London's "narrow interpretation" of European human rights laws.
British forces had claimed their forces were operating within the applicable rules of engagement. London according to the ruling must pay damages to the relatives of the victims.
