British High Court blocks ex-Iraqi General's prosecution of Tony Blair for Iraq war

LONDON, United Kingdom (Kurdistan 24) – The British High Court on Monday rejected a former Iraqi general’s attempt to start a private prosecution against ex-Prime Minister Tony Blair for the Iraq war.

The former chief of staff of the Iraqi army general, Abdul Wahed Shannan Al Rabbat, accused Blair of committing the “crime of aggression” for his role in the 2003 war in Iraq.

According to the court ruling, there is no likelihood of the case moving forward "since no such crime exists."

“Because of a decision by the House of Lords binding in this court, there is no crime of aggression under domestic UK law,” justices said in a written judgment.

The statement also emphasized there was “no prospect of the Supreme Court reversing the decision.”

The House of Lords gave a similar ruling in 2006.

Additionally, Rabbat had another request for legal action against Blair blocked by a magistrate court in 2016.

Rabbat, who currently lives in Oman, allegedly does not have a passport and can’t travel to the United Kingdom.

Michael Mansfield, the former Iraqi general’s legal representative in the UK, said a 12-volume report released last July justifies the prosecution of Blair.

“The report clearly states that former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein did not pose a threat to the interests of the UK,” Mansfield claimed.

“Intelligence concerning weapons of mass destruction had been presented with unwarranted certainty,” he added.

Rabbat also accused two of Blair’s top ministers at the time, Foreign Secretary Jack Straw and Attorney General Lord Goldsmith, for their involvement in the war.

Editing by G.H. Renaud