Home Business News Court rules UK arms sales to Saudi Arabia unlawful

Court rules UK arms sales to Saudi Arabia unlawful

by LLB Reporter
20th Jun 19 2:14 pm

The Court of Appeal has ruled on Thursday that the British government’s arms deals with Saudi Arabia is unlawful.

The government has said they will temporarily halt granting new export arms licences to Saudi, the government announced that they are planning to challenge the ruling.

Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT), who brought the case against international trade secretary Liam Fox and won the case said, “we welcome this verdict.”

Fox told the Commons, “We disagree with the judgment against the Government … and will seek permission to appeal (against) the judgment.”

He added, “We are carefully considering the implications of the judgment for decision-making.

“While we do this, we will not grant any new licences for export to Saudi Arabia and its coalition partners which might be used in the conflict in Yemen.”

The Court of Appeal ruled that “the process of decision-making by the Government was wrong in law in one significant respect.”

Master of the Rolls Sir Terence Etherton, sitting with Lord Justice Irwin and Lord Justice Singh, said the government, “made no concluded assessments of whether the Saudi-led coalition had committed violations of international humanitarian law in the past, during the Yemen conflict, and made no attempt to do so.”

Sir Terence added, “The decision of the court today does not mean that licences to export arms to Saudi Arabia must immediately be suspended.”

Andrew Smith of CAAT said: “We welcome this verdict, but it should never have taken a court case brought by campaigners to force the Government to follow its own rules.

“The Saudi Arabian regime is one of the most brutal and repressive in the world, yet, for decades, it has been the largest buyer of UK-made arms.

“No matter what atrocities it has inflicted, the Saudi regime has been able to count on the uncritical political and military support of the UK.

“The bombing has created the worst humanitarian crisis in the world. UK arms companies have profited every step of the way. The arms sales must stop immediately.”

Lucy Claridge, director of strategic litigation at Amnesty International said, “This judgment is a rare piece of good news for the people of Yemen.

“During four years of devastating war, the Saudi Arabia-led coalition has killed thousands of civilians in Yemen, flattening homes, schools and hospitals in indiscriminate air strikes.

“This is the first time that a UK court has acknowledged the risks of continuing to lavish Saudi Arabia with military equipment for use in Yemen.

“We welcome this judgment as a major step towards preventing further bloodshed.”

Emily Thornberry, the shadow foreign secretary said, “This devastating judgment proves everything Labour has been saying for years: that ministers have wilfully disregarded the evidence that Saudi Arabia was violating international humanitarian law in Yemen, while nevertheless continuing to supply them with weapons.

“What we now need is a full parliamentary or public inquiry to find out how that was allowed to happen, and which ministers were responsible for those breaches of the law.”

Jo Swinson, Liberal Democrat foreign affairs spokeswoman said, “Saudi Arabia is an enemy of British values, including human rights and the rule of law.

“Their repeated violation and disregard for human rights should have ruled them out as an arms trading partner long ago.

“Instead the Conservative government have continued to export arms and equipment to this brutal regime. The situation is inexcusable and cannot continue.

“This court ruling is monumental. It is now clear for all to see: the UK arms sales to the Saudi regime are unlawful.”

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