Do citizens of an occupied nation have the right to attack the foreign invaders under international law ?

Question

US and UK are not under occupation , 9/11 and 7/7 are separated issues under the category of terrorist attacks.

only Iraqis can defend Iraq because it is their motherland , I am merely asking a question regarding the legality of one's right to defend one's nation.

during WWII , chinese fought Japanese invaders in China and French fought German invaders in France ,so did Russians fought Greman invaders in Russia , we only remembered and congrudulated their courage and bravery , so what has changed now ?

Answer 1

I think that if your country is attacked you do have the right to defend your homeland against foreign invaders. And once occupied you still have the right to fight for your country and try to restore it to its former state.

Answer 2

Yes. They are regarded as parties to a conflict, and therefore both parties are perfectly at liberty to engage in hostilities against each other, subject of course to the usual conventions of warfare.

This is why the United States did not remove any Afghan citizens to Guantanamo Bay (whether they had the legal right to transport foreign nationals there is another issue and where the US's interpretation of international law does not enjoy universal agreement).

Note that the invaders have rights to protect themselves from attack by the citizens of an occupied nation, provided that they adhere to the various conventions. This may include, for example, imprisonment. So even though someone has the "right" to try and shoot an invader, they still get punished if they get captured (assuming they're not killed in the attack of course). Those classed as a spy or saboteur are deemed to have waived their right to communication under the Geneva convention but maintain their other protections (fair treatment, no torture, etc).

Answer 3

Only if the war is an unjust war. So, for example, if one state repeatedly breaks a ceasefire and gets itself invaded, the invasion would be a just one.

The rebels must also adhere to the Geneva Conventions when resisting. So, for example, those who refuse to distinguish themselves as combatants from the mass of civilians, those who commit indescriminate attacks on civilians, and those who behead their prisoners do not have any rights under the Geneva Convention.

They can be shot.

If you are trying to make the argument that the insurgency in Iraq is justified, then you fall far short.

Answer 4

Where was this international law when they were invaded in the first place?

I believe that occupied nations have the RIGHT and the OBLIGATION to attack the invaders with whatever means possible.

Answer 5

Noone complained about the French Resistance army attacking the occupying Germans (except the Germans of course) during WW2...

Depends on the circumstances.

Answer 6

The answer is yes. Except when the invaders' media is talking about it, then its "terrorists". A hoot. In fact anyone could join in and help oppressed people.

Answer 7

what do you mean like the USA being attacked by terrorist's or 7/7 in london by foreign invaders?

Answer 8

Whatever gave you the idea that International Law would prevent citizens from defending their own country?

Answer 9

Are you trying to defend Iraq legally?

Answer 10

just stay out of it, its safer, let the police deal with it, there is problems all over the world, we all want peace,to live our liefs safe,all the best.