Rabia Siddique

On 19 September 2005, two British Special Forces soldiers were captured and illegally detained while investigating the infiltration of the police force by Shi'ite extremists. They were taken to the Jameat, or al-Jameat, a police compound in the Iraqi port city of Basra.[5][6]

The head of the UK brigade's surveillance unit, Major James Woodham, was sent to negotiate their release. When talks broke down the Iraqi representative, Judge Raghib, told Woodham he would not discuss the situation with anyone other than "Major Rabia".[1][6]

Despite having no training in hostage negotiation and little combat experience, Siddique was ordered by her chief-of-staff Major Rupert Jones to negotiate their release.[3] Siddique visited the cell where the British soldiers were held, negotiated for the removal of their hoods and chains and a set of conditions for the men to be released into her custody. As the document was about to be signed, the compound was stormed by a crowd who had been told by corrupt local police that the Special Forces soldiers were Israeli spies and had slaughtered a local policeman.[6]

The soldiers were chained and blindfolded again and Woodham and Siddique were taken to a tiny office where they were held hostage with police officers, Iraqi elders, and four British soldiers who had been captured while sneaking into the compound. During the crisis Siddique had an AK47 pointed at her and believed she only had seconds to live.

After almost ten hours Siddique and five other officers were rescued by British Warrior armoured vehicles. They went on to a Hezbollah safe house, rescuing the two British Special Forces soldiers who had been transferred there, and who were about to be beheaded.

Back at headquarters Woodham received a hero's welcome and a standard debriefing.

Siddique was not debriefed and received no acknowledgment of the role she played at al-Jameat.

Woodham was awarded a Military Cross for bravery in the al-Jameat incident. Siddique was not mentioned in official reports and she was not invited to take part in a Whitehall inquiry into the incident.[3][4][6]

She was posted to the armed forces employment law branch to train soldiers and officers on equality and diversity in 2006.[6] Prince William, during his officer training course at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, was amongst those she trained.

Her image was used to promote diversity for the British Army.[4][6]

Against advice from fellow officers, Siddique submitted a formal grievance with the Army Board, suing the UK Ministry of Defence for race and sex discrimination in May 2007. When news of the case was leaked, the British press portrayed Siddique as money-grabbing and a medal hunter.[5]

In June 2008, minutes before her case was due to be heard at Central London Employment Tribunal, the UK Ministry of Defence persuaded Siddique to settle out of court. She was awarded an undisclosed sum as damages, a letter of apology and praise about her role at al-Jameat from the Chief of the General Staff, Sir Richard Dannatt.[7]