Honour for Iraqis' court champion (Shiner, Human Rights Lawyer)

[maddezmom]

Phil Shiner, the solicitor who brought a landmark high court test case to try to hold the UK government accountable for deaths and alleged torture of civilians in Iraq, was named Human Rights Lawyer of the Year last night.

Mr Shiner, of Birmingham-based Public Interest Lawyers, was presented with his award for "personal sacrifice and professional dedication in fighting for justice and individual rights".

The award, from the civil rights campaigning group Liberty and law reform organisation Justice, was presented on the eve of Human Rights Day at the Law Society's Hall in central London.

The citation praised his "outstanding skill and tenacity in taking test cases to protect the rights of Iraqi civilians tortured and killed by British forces". The government argued in court that it was not liable to hold an inquiry into the deaths and alleged torture because the European convention on human rights did not apply to British public authorities outside the territory of the UK. The high court may deliver its judgment next week.

~SNIP~
http://politics.guardian.co.uk/iraq/story/0,12956,1370716,00.html