Muslim Army major who 'got a hug instead of a medal' after saving hostages in Iraq settles sex and race discrimination case

Military chiefs have vowed to learn lessons from the treatment of a female Muslim Army lawyer who was 'given a hug instead of a medal' for her part in trying to free soldiers kidnapped in Iraq.

Major Rabia Siddique yesterday settled a race and sex discrimination case against the Ministry of Defence.

The 36-year-old claimed she was denied proper recognition for her role in talks to try to free two SAS soldiers kidnapped in Basra in September 2005.

Major Siddique, whose picture was used in posters to attract recruits to the Army Legal Services, had been helicoptered into the Basra police compound which was surrounded by a mob.

She was brought in to help negotiate the release of troops seized by militiamen, but found herself held hostage at gunpoint for several hours.

As the only Arabic-speaking soldier, she played a key role in the terrifying stand-off before British commanders ordered a Warrior armoured vehicle to smash into the al-Jameat police station.

But while another white male officer of equal rank in the six-strong negotiating team was debriefed and subsequently awarded the Military Cross, Major Siddique's commanding officer merely 'gave her a hug' and sent her back to barracks, she claimed.

After being discharged last year, Major Siddique, of Salisbury, launched a sex and race discrimination case against the Army.

Her solicitor Joanna Wade said that she had initially demanded £650,000 in compensation but the final value of her claim was 'considerably less' after she found another job as a civilian lawyer.

A last-minute settlement was agreed yesterday as her case was due to be heard by Central London employment tribunal.

The terms of the agreement were not made public but Major Siddique read out a letter she received from the head of the Army, General Sir Richard Dannatt, in which he recognised the courage she showed in the Basra negotiations.

The letter added: 'The Army will consider carefully your perception of the way that you were treated in the period that followed the al-Jameat incident with a view to ensuring that appropriate lessons are learnt.'

Major Siddique said: 'I am disappointed that matters came to this but content now to be able to move on.

'I am also pleased to hear what the Chief of the General Staff has said about lessons that may be learnt, which is primarily what I was seeking by bringing these claims.'

Major Siddique, an Australian-born British citizen who was brought up as a Muslim, qualified as a lawyer in 1996 and joined the Army in 2001, planning to serve 16 years.

She expected to be promoted to Lieutenant Colonel before she left the Army with a full service pension. A £47,000-a-year major in the Adjutant General's Corps (Army Legal Services), she was posted to Iraq in April 2005 as a legal adviser to 12 Mechanised Brigade, playing a key role providing legal advice on military operations.

Given her background and basic Arabic, she 'formed good links with the Iraqi police and judiciary' and was highly praised by her then commanding officer, Brigadier Chris Hughes.

He formally recommended her for a military award, writing in Major Siddique's appraisal at the end of his tour of duty: 'Simply put, she is one of the best military lawyers I have come across and I am fortunate to have her.'

An MoD spokesman said: 'We can confirm that Major Siddique's claims have been resolved without admission of liability and without recourse to the employment tribunal.'