Campaign outraged at plans to exempt military from human rights law

Christian campaigners have voiced grave concern over plans unveiled by the Government at the Conservative Party Conference this week.

Teresa May and Michael Fallon, Prime Minister and Defence Secretary, will suggest that the British military need not abide by the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) during conflicts.

The government claims that the MOD has spent £100million in court fees since 2004 and wants to avoid further costs by introducing this change. Christian peace charity the Fellowship of Reconciliation (FoR) has expressed dismay that money is being put above human rights.

Revd Christopher Collins, Methodist Minister and FoR Trustee said: "Members of the military need to be held to account for what they do. No-one is above human rights. This new way of putting the armed forces beyond criticism is a very worrying move."

The ECHR is part of the post-Second World War settlement, lead by Britain, to prevent a repeat of the human rights abuses perpetrated by Governments and militaries before and during that conflict.

Richard Bickle, Chair of Trustees at FoR said: "As a Christian, I find it astonishing that the British Government should seek to place members of its armed forces outside of a long-established framework to protect human rights, especially when we bear in mind the events of the 1930s and 1940s which lead to its adoption in the first place. I hope the Government think again about the implications of this proposal."

The Fellowship of Reconciliation is an ecumenical peace charity based in Oxford. It is part of the International Fellowship of Reconciliation which has 67 branches around the world. For more information see: www.for.org.uk