Photos of 'tortured' Iraqi's corpse released (UK)

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http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/04/16/wmousa116.xml

Photos of 'tortured' Iraqi's corpse released

By staff and agencies
Last Updated: 2:20am BST 17/04/2007

Photographs showing the severe beating suffered by an Iraqi civilian who died in British custody were released today as the House of Lords begins a hearing into whether human rights law should apply to British forces abroad.

The pictures of 26-year-old Baha Mousa were unveiled by his lawyer and human rights group Liberty, who are calling for an "independent, effective investigation into the big systemic issues" raised by the case.

Baha Mousa's case is one of six test cases being examined by the Law Lords, along with five Iraqis who died at the hands of British soldiers in the streets of Basra.

Mr Mousa's father Daoud Mousa could not get a visa to attend the hearing but said in a statement: "When I saw the corpse I burst into tears and I still cannot bear to think about what I saw.

"I was horrified to see that my son had been severely beaten and his body was literally covered in blood and bruises."

Phil Shiner, of Public Interest Lawyers, showed pictures and medical evidence relating to Mr Mousa, who died in 2003, and other men beaten in custody. Photographs and records showed 93 injuries, including a fractured nose and four broken ribs, severe injuries to his wrists and a ligature around his neck.

Mr Shiner said: "We're not just talking about nuanced degrading treatment. This is torture by any definition of that word.

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