Dear friend

Yemen conflict: High Court judgment

We have now received the judgment from the High Court for our latest court case.

The judges rejected CAAT’s argument that the past bombing of schools, homes and hospitals by the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen should mean the UK Government blocks any further arms sales that could be used in the conflict by Saudi Arabia and its allies. With our colleagues from the Yemeni organisation, Mwatana for Human Rights, we provided the court with details of incidents which caused death and serious injury to scores of civilians.

The court took the view this week that without proof that the Saudi-led coalition intended to target civilians in future, the UK Government could ignore this dreadful history, and continue to issue licenses for new weapons shipments.

CAAT is appalled by this judgment, which fails the people of Yemen and flies in the face of common sense.

The bombing has directly caused the deaths of more than 8,000 people, forced tens of thousands from their homes, and left many others facing the impact of famine and disease. The UN estimates more than 377,000 people have died in Yemen as a result of the war, from bombs, famine and disease since the war began in 2015. Although there is a hopeful truce today, the continued shipment of weapons to the region risks yet more harm and conflict.

CAAT expresses its continuing solidarity with the people of Yemen, especially all those who have been affected by British-made weapons.

We are consulting with our lawyers on the case, and will let you know shortly about the next steps. In any event, it shows the importance of continuing to put pressure on arms companies, Governments, and all those who enable and encourage the export of deadly weapons. The court case has been important in keeping up this pressure, but it is only part of a much wider campaign by activists across the UK and around the world working for peace and justice and an end to the arms trade.

Thank you for your continuing efforts and support.

Kirsten Bayes
Campaign Against Arms Trade