SNP want end to Saudi arms sales after revelation UK knew about violations

THE SNP has called for UK arms sales to Saudi Arabia to end following revelations that the Ministry of Defence (MoD) knew of hundreds of alleged humanitarian law breaches in Yemen by the regime.

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تاریخ: ۲۸ آبان ۱۳۹۷ - ۰۹:۱۵

Through Freedom of Information requests, The Sunday Post revealed the MoD was aware of 381 reported violations yet was only aware of 79 investigations by Saudi’s Joint Incident Assessment Team (JIAT) – an organisation which has been strongly condemned by Human Rights Watch.

Despite knowing about the hundreds of allegations, the UK Government has not completed any investigations of its own.

The SNP’s Westminster leader Ian Blackford MP described the alleged breaches as “incredibly concerning”.

He added: “It is even more worrying that the MoD was aware of the allegations – but had not committed to any of its own investigations. The Saudi-led coalition’s independent Joint Incident Assessment Team does not carry any legitimacy in investigating the war in Yemen.

“The UK Government is not a mere bystander in the war, it is an active player.

“Despite the mounting evidence of breaches in international law, the UK Government is still content on looking the other way, whilst simultaneously supplying arms and military advice to the Saudi government.

He continued: “The sale of arms to the Saudi government must end now.

“If the UK aims to be a serious partner for peace, it must stop fuelling the conflict with billions of pounds worth of arms and instead hold the Saudi regime to account.”

UK military sales to Saudi Arabia increased by two-thirds in 2017 from 2016 – an increase of more than £450 million.

The war in Yemen has caused the deaths of an estimated 10,000 people and the UN has warned that millions are suffering from an acute hunger crisis, with the country now on the brink of famine.