Iraq Moves to End Mercenary Immunity

Legislation that will be submitted to the Iraqi parliament would end immunity for private security contractors and make them subject to Iraqi law. The former Coalition Provisional Authority’s Order 17 currently keeps contractors in a legal bubble, making prosecution next to impossible.

BBC:

A spokesman for the Iraqi interior ministry, Maj-Gen Abdul Kareem Khalaf, said the new guidelines would cover everything to do with the operations of private security contractors.

“The companies will come under the grip of Iraqi law, will be monitored by the interior ministry and will work under its guidelines,” he said.

“They will be strictly punished for any [violations] on the street.”

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nytimes.com

An Iraqi bikes past what is left of one of the cars involved in the Blackwater shooting that led to the security organization’s suspension.