Saudi arms sales are in breach of international law, Britain is told

Last Updated: January 9, 2016By

A house destroyed by a Saudi-led coalition airstrike last week on the Yemeni capital, Sana’a [Image: Chen Lin/Xinhua Press/Corbis].

Let’s see if we’ve got this right: Not only is the Conservative Government providing arms to Saudi Arabia in order to help that country violate international humanitarian law, but the Tories also colluded with the Saudis in order to put Saudi Arabia on the United Nations’ human rights council.

Right?

Tories never do anything for free. What are they getting in return?

The government has been put on notice that it is in breach of international law for allowing the export of British-made missiles and military equipment to Saudi Arabia that might have been used to kill civilians.

The hugely embarrassing accusation comes after human rights groups, the European parliament and the UN all expressed concerns about Saudi-led coalition attacks in Yemen. Lawyers acting for the Campaign Against the Arms Trade (CAAT) have stepped up legal proceedings against the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, which approves export licences, accusing it of failing in its legal duty to take steps to prevent and suppress violations of international humanitarian law.

In a 19-page legal letter seen by the Observer, CAAT warns that the government’s refusal to suspend current licences to Saudi Arabia, and its decision “to continue the granting of new licences” for military equipment that may be destined for use in Yemen, is unlawful. The letter cites article two of the EU Council Common Position on arms sales, which would compel the UK to deny an export licence if there was “a clear risk” that equipment might be used in a violation of international humanitarian law.

Lawyers for CAAT have given the government 14 days to suspend licences allowing the export of military equipment to Saudi Arabia, pending the outcome of a review of its obligations under EU law and its own licensing criteria. A failure to comply would see proceedings against the government, which would force it to explain in the high court what steps it has taken to ensure that UK military hardware is not being used in breach of international law.

Source: Saudi arms sales are in breach of international law, Britain is told | World news | The Guardian

Join the Vox Political Facebook page.

If you have appreciated this article, don’t forget to share it using the buttons at the bottom of this page. Politics is about everybody – so let’s try to get everybody involved!

Vox Political needs your help!
If you want to support this site
(
but don’t want to give your money to advertisers)
you can make a one-off donation here:

Donate Button with Credit Cards

Buy Vox Political books so we can continue
fighting for the facts.

Health Warning: Government! is now available
in either print or eBook format here:

HWG PrintHWG eBook

The first collection, Strong Words and Hard Times,
is still available in either print or eBook format here:

SWAHTprint SWAHTeBook

latest video

news via inbox

Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

No Comments

  1. boromoor January 10, 2016 at 1:12 am - Reply

    Call me an old cynic, but this story wouldn’t be linked to your earlier post about Camerons’ “meritorious services to the Saudi Kingdom” would it?

  2. Rupert Mitchell (@rupert_rrl) January 10, 2016 at 7:09 am - Reply

    I find it hard to accept that much of our economy is based on selling killing equipment to other countries. So much of our heritage in manufacturing constructive goods and services has been sold off to other countries which are now reaping the benefit of the profits. We need to face up to all these disastrous moves and return to a proper democracy under Jeremy Corbyn.

  3. NMac January 10, 2016 at 9:45 am - Reply

    Tories don’t care overmuch about laws which don’t suit their nasty purposes.

Leave A Comment