Families of innocents killed by Australian special forces want a trial in Aghanistan
The families of Afghans killed by Australian special forces want the alleged perpetrators tried in Afghanistan for justice to be served.
“I need justice and also expect compensation for the loss and pain they have caused us,” says Abdul Latif from Sarkhume village in Uruzgan province.
“They martyred my father and destroyed our hopes.
“My father wanted us to study at school and complete our religious studies, but all his hopes were buried, and we lost all our hope.”
The Australian news site ABC Investigations has interviewed four family members of two men allegedly killed in cold blood by members of 3 Squadron SAS in Sarkhume in March 2012.
The killings of Haji Sardar and Mirza Khan were exposed by ABC Investigations last year.
ISLAMIC LAW
The case was one of many investigated by the IGADF as part of inquiry into allegations of war crimes by the Australian special forces.
“If justice is done according to our Islamic law — because these crimes were committed in Afghanistan — these soldiers should be prosecuted according to Islamic law.
“If it is according to [Australian] law, they must imprison them for life,” said Abdul Latif, whose father Haji Sardar was found dead after the raid. “We want both justice and compensation.”
“This will be an important step in rehabilitating Australia’s international reputation, in particular with Afghanistan, and it is simply the right thing to do,” a report said.
The Afghanistan war crimes report was released by Defence Chief Angus Campbell includes evidence of 39 murders by special forces seven days ago.
The report says “credible information” emerged that 25 current or former Australian Defence Force personnel were involved in the serious crimes.
The crimes are for either carrying out the offences or at least being “accessories” to the incidents.
The report recommends a total of 36 incidents be referred to the Australian Federal Police (AFP) for criminal investigation.
General Campbell offered an apology for “any wrongdoing by Australian soldiers”, predominately the actions of some within the elite SAS.
“It is alleged that some patrols took the law into their own hands, rules were broken, stories concocted, lies told and prisoners killed,” he says.