A UK government minister faces legal action for refusing to disclose the sources behind allegations of war crimes committed by British special forces in Afghanistan. Johnny Mercer, the minister for veterans, has been ordered by the Independent Inquiry Relating to Afghanistan to reveal the names of whistleblowers or potentially face imprisonment. Mercer, a former British Army officer, has declined to disclose the identities, citing a duty to protect his sources’ confidentiality and integrity. The inquiry’s chairman accused Mercer of obstructing the investigation, while allies assert that his stance aims to safeguard the trust between service personnel and lawmakers. The allegations include claims of a “campaign of murder” against civilians by UK special forces, with accusations of inadequate investigation by senior military officials. The inquiry is examining two investigations conducted by the Royal Military Police into these allegations, which have not led to any prosecutions.
