Court orders Denmark's Defense Ministry to compensate 18 Iraqi civilians

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – A Danish court on Friday ordered Denmark’s Defense Ministry to compensate 18 Iraqi civilians arrested by Iraqi troops during a military operation in 2014 in which Danish soldiers assisted.

The Danish soldiers did not participate in any abuse, but they knew the detainees were “in real danger of being exposed to inhumane treatment in terms of being hit and kicked” by the Iraqi forces, the Eastern High Court in Copenhagen said, as reported by the Associated Press.

The court stated on Friday that the Danish troops had the responsibility to intervene, but they did not.

According to the court, each civilian should get 30,000 Kroner ($4,716) in compensation.

The Iraqi forces detained them “on suspicion of being armed terrorists or rebels,” the court added.

Danish Minister of Defense Claus Hjort Frederiksen stated that the ministry would appeal against the court’s decision.

The ruling “is problematic because it puts Denmark in a very difficult situation when we send out soldiers in some situations it means that we cannot contribute to improving the security situation — hence the human rights situation — in conflict areas," Frederiksen said. "That doesn’t benefit anyone.”

Christian Harlang, who handled the case for the 23 Iraqi accusers, marked the court’s ruling “an important victory” because he believes countries “in the future should observe the rules of not only military engagement, but also human rights as binding standards for military operations.”

Out of the 23 former detainees, only 18 were granted monetary compensation.

Over the past few years, Iraqi forces have arrested tens of thousands it says are members of the jihadi group. So far, Iraqi courts have sentenced dozens of them to death or life in prison, based on anti-terrorism legislation.

Editing by John J. Catherine