Arabic version: عائلة الضحايا الأفغان تعبر عن ارتياحها بعد اعتقال الجندي
Esmatullah, the brother of two Afghan men allegedly killed by Australian soldier Ben Roberts-Smith, has expressed relief following the soldier’s arrest. According to SBS News, Roberts-Smith faces charges for the alleged murders of unarmed civilians while deployed in Afghanistan between 2009 and 2012.
The victims, Mohammed Essa and Ahmadullah, were killed during a raid by Australian special forces on a compound known as Whiskey 108 in Uruzgan Province in 2009. Esmatullah recalls the traumatic event, stating that his brother, who had a prosthetic leg, was allegedly machine-gunned by Roberts-Smith, while their father was allegedly executed on the soldier’s orders.
Roberts-Smith, who has consistently denied wrongdoing, was charged with five counts of the war crime of murder and remains in custody, awaiting a court appearance on 4 June. Esmatullah, now an adult, mentioned that he wished he could confront Roberts-Smith directly, emphasizing the need for transparency in the judicial process.
He expressed frustration that the investigation had taken too long, urging for a thorough and prompt examination of the case. This incident marks a significant moment in Australian military justice, as Roberts-Smith is the second Australian soldier to be charged with a war crime, with potential implications for others involved in similar actions.
