CAAT has launched a new legal challenge
( [link removed] ) to stop
the sale of UK weapons for use in the war in Yemen.

Can you spread the word? Share this story
( [link removed] ), or
share on Twitter
( [link removed] ) Facebook

( [link removed] )
.

In July, the government resumed issuing arms export licences for
use in the war in Yemen: an appalling and astonishing decision.

UK rules explicitly prohibit the sale of weapons when there is a
“clear risk they might be used in violations of international
humanitarian law.”

There’s no ‘might’ about it here.

Violations of International Humanitarian Law by the Saudi-led
coalition have been reported since the first airstrikes hit Yemen
in March 2015, and they continue now. The attacks have killed
thousands of civilians and targeted food production, schools and
hospitals. Yemen’s devastating humanitarian crisis is also a
direct result of the war.

This war is waged with UK-made weapons. Over half of Saudi
Arabia’s combat aircraft used for the bombing raids are
UK-supplied and they are dropping UK-made bombs and firing
UK-made missiles. CAAT estimates the value of sales to the
Coalition since the beginning of the war to be at least £18
billion.

Last year, as a result of CAAT’s previous legal action, hundreds
of millions of pounds worth of arms sales were put on hold.

The Court of Appeal found government decisions to allow arms
sales were 'irrational and therefore unlawful'. The government
was forced to stop issuing new arms export licences for use in
the war and review all its previous decisions to allow arms
sales, in accordance with the law.

Yet the government’s review was a whitewash. It concluded that
any violations of International Humanitarian Law committed by the
Saudi coalition were only ‘isolated incidents’ - despite the fact
that hundreds of attacks on residential areas, schools,
hospitals, civilian gatherings, and agricultural land and
facilities have been documented.

The government has resolved to return to business as usual, but
this is a business with a terrible cost and we cannot let it
continue. Our action continues until we stop these sales once and
for all.

Read more in our press release
( [link removed] )
, and the story in today’s Guardian
( [link removed] )
.

In solidarity

Campaign Against Arms Trade ( [link removed] )

Sarah

Campaign Against Arms Trade
--
To view this message in a browser: [link removed]
To unsubscribe from this mailing list, email [email protected]
To opt out of all our mailing lists, email [email protected]