Local Editor
The Global Legal Action Network and Mwatana for Human Rights have submitted new evidence to the UK Government regarding the extent of apparently unlawful attacks carried out by the Saudi/UAE-led coalition in Yemen. Based on documentation collected in Yemen, including witness interviews and photographic evidence taken during visits to the sites of attacks, the organizations detail how the Coalition has continued to carry out apparently unlawful attacks throughout the course of the conflict, failed to credibly investigate, and whitewashed significant civilian harm.
The move comes after the Court of Appeal of England and Wales ruled that the government must revisit its decision to allow weapons exports to Saudi Arabia. The UK has significantly relied on the Coalition’s own examination of some of its airstrikes to justify arms sales despite consistent, credible allegations that Coalition forces have committed serious violations of international humanitarian law, and have failed to take adequate steps to ensure violations stop.
The organizations provide ample detail as to why Coalition assurances - five years into the conflict - are not credible. The submission details multiple airstrikes which the Coalition denies all responsibility for - claims that are directly contradicted by witness and photographic evidence. It also provides examples of the Coalition failing to acknowledge civilian harm caused by its attacks despite readily available evidence, as well as apparently indiscriminate or disproportionate attacks on civilians and civilian objects. The evidence comes years after concerns were first raised regarding the way in which the Coalition was conducting its military campaign.
“This evidence will assist the UK government in deciding whether to grant further arms sales licenses for Saudi Arabia. They can either continue to rely on discredited Saudi/UAE-led coalition assurances, or listen to those who have painstakingly documented the constant civilian deaths caused by Coalition airstrikes. Multiple European states have already suspended arms sales and now the case for the UK doing the same could not be stronger,” said GLAN Director Dr Gearóid Ó Cuinn.
“The Saudi/UAE-led coalition is decimating Yemen, with indiscriminate and disproportionate airstrikes destroying the country’s infrastructure without regard for civilians,” said Radhya Al-Mutawakel, Chairperson of Mwatana for Human Rights. “The UK should have stopped selling weapons to the Saudi/UAE-led coalition a long time ago. We hope this evidence helps them finally make the right decision, and to start seriously pushing for peace.”
Source: Global Legal Action Network, Edited by Website Team
