LONDON, July 27 (AFP) - A judicial review into Britain's decision not to hold an independent inquiry into the alleged killing of Iraqis by British troops will begin on Wednesday.
On the eve of a three-day hearing at London's High Court, Daoud Mousa, whose son was allegedly beaten and killed by British soldiers in Basra, south Iraq, hoped an independent inquiry would be launched to investigate the alleged deaths of Iraqi civilians.
"When I saw my son's body, I was horrified," he said in a statement on Tuesday. He had been beaten so severely, I could not bear to look at him."
"We were offered 5,000 US dollars (4,140 euros) but my family turned this down because it was an insult to our dignity," he said. "The crime was horrendous and his two sons, aged three and five, have been left fatherless."
The death of Baha Mousa, 26, is one of six test cases under consideration, the core argument being whether Britain's occupation force in southern Iraq are liable under British laws on human rights.
Mousa will be accompanied in court on Wednesday by Iraqi hotel worker Kifah Taha Al-Mutari, who was arrested at the same time as his son.
Al-Mutari claimed he was beaten so badly during three days in British custody that he suffered kidney failure.
The other cases involve the shootings of four Iraqi civilians, allegedly by British soldiers.
The victims were either at home, walking in the street or driving when they were shot.