Muslim reservist loses Iraq war legal battle

A British Muslim reservist airman who refused to take part in the Iraq war because of his religious beliefs has lost his legal…

A British Muslim reservist airman who refused to take part in the Iraq war because of his religious beliefs has lost his legal battle over his prosecution by the RAF for going absent without leave.

Leading Aircraftsman Mohisin Khan, 25, from Ipswich, Suffolk, absented himself from duty on the grounds of conscientious objection.

Mr Khan, an aircraftsman and medic, had been mobilised with others last year to return to the regular forces to supplement service personnel in the Iraq war.

The court was told he held a "genuine and deep belief" that the pending war was wrong and contrary to his religion. There had been interference with his right to conscientious objection.

But today Lord Justice Rix and Mr Justice Forbes, sitting in London, ruled there was no interference with his rights "by reason of the appellant's recall, arrest, prosecution or conviction".

  • Join The Irish Times on WhatsApp and stay up to date

  • Sign up for push alerts to get the best breaking news, analysis and comment delivered directly to your phone

  • Listen to In The News podcast daily for a deep dive on the stories that matter