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‘Where are the protests?’: Readers slam abuse by UK troops [1]

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Date: 2025-08 

Welcome to openDemocracy’s weekly reader comments round-up. This is an opportunity for us to showcase some of the many carefully considered messages we receive on a range of topics.

These comments are edited for clarity, accuracy and length and don’t necessarily reflect openDemocracy's editorial position.

Re: Government spends £8m compensating children sexually abused by British troops

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Can’t wait for the Tommy Robinson crowd to riot. Their protests outside hotels housing asylum seekers are all about supporting kids, right? –Oliver via Instagram

Strange… you don’t get Reform UK-inspired thugs congregating around army barracks and rioting… don’t they care? –Peter via Facebook

I wonder where the ‘deport now’ brigade will be on this one? –Darren via Instagram

Once you remove society’s biggest taboo, ‘thou shalt not kill’, any other taboos must seem small potatoes in the world of militaries. Abuse and torture of all kinds, like the US Army carried out in Abu Ghraib during the Iraq war, is possible because military training strips people down to their most barbaric level, so that they will unquestioningly kill when called upon. It’s a big gang, and gang loyalty and behaviours are therefore to be expected. We need a better idea than war. –Lilian via Facebook

Is there a punishment for the troops or is it like the Catholic Church, and they just send them to a different war zone? –Manu via Facebook

Re: The UK must introduce a Gaza Family Visa Scheme as it did with Ukraine

Children are children. They all live under the same roof. They should all have access to food, water, medicine, shelter and protection. Who or what kind of evil can justify the slaughter of innocent children? Teach them empathy, compassion, respect and love, and not fear, hatred and lies. Aren’t all children children on this planet? –Anthony via email

Sadly, a UK Gaza Family Visa Scheme would still require the Israelis to let them out. –Crispin via Bluesky

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[1] Url: https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/readers-thoughts-british-army-child-abuse-protesters-asylum-hotels/

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