Government doesn’t investigate human rights claims against Saudi Arabia before selling arms

Exclusive: Officials only come to an ‘overall judgement’ on whether weapons sold will be used to breach laws

The Government does not make judgments over whether countries like Saudi Arabia have violated international humanitarian laws in specific cases before granting arms exports to them.

Ministers have admitted they do not reach any conclusion on whether there have been violations in particular cases, because they say it would “not be possible” in conflicts the UK is not involved in.

Ministers instead try to come to “an overall judgement” that arms sold to a country will not be used to violate international humanitarian laws (IHL), a government spokesman has told The Independent.

The revelation comes ahead of a landmark judicial review case this week in the High Court, which will determine the legality of the arms transfers to Saudi Arabia.

MORE:   http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/arms-exports-saudi-arabia-yemen-no-judgement-international-humanitarian-law-theresa-may-cluster-a7538601.html

Leave a Reply