Danish court orders ministry to compensate Iraqi civilians

COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) - A Copenhagen court has ordered Denmark's Defense Ministry to compensate 18 Iraqi civilians detained by Iraqi security troops during a 2014 military operation in Iraq in which Danish soldiers where there assisting the Iraqi troops.

The Eastern High Court says the Danish soldiers had not abused any of the Iraqi civilians but they knew the detainees were "in real danger of being exposed to inhumane treatment in terms of being hit and kicked" by the Iraqi forces.

The court said Friday it was the responsibility of the Danish troops because they didn't intervene. The court said each should get 30,000 kroner ($4,716) in compensation, adding the Iraqi security forces had rounded up the detainees "on suspicion of being armed terrorists or rebels."

There was no immediate comment from the Defense Ministry.