- Boris Johnson refuses to suspend arms exports to Saudi Arabia despite widespread allegations that Saudi forces are breaking international humanitarian law in Yemen
- UK has licensed over £3.3 billion worth of arms to Saudi Arabia since bombing of Yemen began in March 2015
- Campaigners to protest outside parliament in opposition on Wednesday 07 September
In a written statement to parliament today, the new Foreign Secretary, Boris Johnson, has confirmed that the UK will not suspend arms exports to Saudi Arabia.
Calls for the government to suspend arms sales have come from all quarters, including the European Parliament, the House of Commons’ International Development Committee, the Labour Party, the Scottish National Party, the Liberal Democrats, as well as MPs from the Green Party, Plaid Cymru and the SDLP.
Since the bombing campaign began last March, the UK has licensed £3.3 billion worth of arms to the Saudi government, these include:
- £2.2 billion worth of ML10 licences (Aircraft, helicopters, drones)
- £1.1 billion worth of ML4 licences (Grenades, bombs, missiles, countermeasures)
- £430,000 worth of ML6 licences (Armoured vehicles, tanks)
This afternoon at 3.30, Hillary Benn MP is scheduled to ask an urgent question calling on Boris Johnson to give a statement on government assessments of breaches of international humanitarian law in Yemen.
Andrew Smith of Campaign Against Arms Trade said:
The Foreign Secretary is putting arms company profits ahead of human rights. The Saudi regime has created a humanitarian catastrophe and the UK government is complicit in it.
In the last month alone, Saudi-led forces have been accused of bombing a food factory, killing 14 people, a school, killing 10, including children, and a Médecins Sans Frontières hospital, killing 11.
Andrew continued:
Boris Johnson can see the terrible damage that the Saudi bombing campaign is doing and the devastating impact that UK bombs are having. If he cares for the rights of Yemeni people then he must stop the arms sales and work for a peaceful solution.
UK arms sales to Saudi Arabia are currently subject to a judicial review, following an application by CAAT. The claim calls on the government to suspend all extant licences and stop issuing further arms export licences to Saudi Arabia for use in Yemen while it holds a full review into if the exports are compatible with UK and EU legislation. A three day review will take place in front of two judges no later than 01 February 2017.
A protest will be taking place outside parliament from 9:00am on Wednesday 07 September, calling on the UK government to stop arming Saudi Arabia.
ENDS
For further information please contact Andrew at media(at)caat·org·uk or call 020 7281 0297 or 07990 673232.
