Campaigners from L8's Yemeni community joined protests outside the High Court in London over the Government's sale of weapons to Saudi Arabia.
Last week the Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT) launched legal action against the Government over licensing arms sales to Saudi Arabia for use in its war with Yemen. CAAT notes since the start of the war with Yemen in 2015, the UK has licensed over £23bn worth of arms to the Saudi regime.
CAAT argues UK arms contribute to breaches of International Humanitarian Law (IHL) and one of the world’s worst humanitarian disasters. In 2019, CAAT won that case against the Government, with the Court of Appeal finding arms sales were “irrational and therefore unlawful”. However, after a review, then Secretary of State Liz Truss, decided to resume sales on the basis any breaches of IHL were “isolated incidents”.
READ MORE: Turkey travel warning as Foreign Office releases new guidance for UK visitors
Liverpool Yemeni community member, poet and writer Amina Atiq told the ECHO: "The war impacts people in L8 because many people have a lot of family back home. Many of my family have been affected by the war, many have travelled to Egypt as a place of safety.
“Many people are now exiled from Yemen and there’s a huge number of young people who’ve travelled and tried to reach other parts of the world to study or finish their studying. I hope that the international community can make this easily accessible for Yemeni students and workers.
Yemeni community member Saba Ahmed added: “Although our government deems it okay to be complicit in the war on Yemen, the good people of the UK do not. We are a kingdom of people who know what's right and wrong and we want no part in the profits of this destruction to our fellow humans in Yemen.
“We have a voice and a system in place to amplify our concerns. If you want your voice heard then I urge you to speak to your MPs, if you want help to do this then access guidance here."
As the legal action began on January 31, CAAT's Emily Apple said: “This is a government that cares more about profit than war crimes and the deaths of civilians. Its argument that these are ‘isolated incidents’ is total nonsense and deeply offensive to all Yemeni people who’ve had their lives destroyed by UK weapons.
“Given the Court of Appeal’s previous ruling, we should not have to be in court again. It’s clear Liz Truss thought she could pay lip service to reviewing these sales by conjuring a loophole that, given the evidence, is nothing but a flimsy pretence to continue lining the pockets of arms dealers at the expense of people’s lives”.
Liverpool Riverside MP, Kim Johnson told the ECHO: "This government has repeatedly refused to stop arms sales to Saudi Arabia, flying in the face of a mountain of evidence that shows British bombs are contributing to the worst humanitarian crisis in the world. I hope the judgement to follow shows the government’s decision to resume arms sales is unlawful.
"The end of arms sales fuelling war in Yemen is not only the moral thing to do but will prevent further death and destruction we have seen in the past eight years.”
The High Court judgement is not expected for three to six months. A spokesperson for Mwatana for Human Rights said: "We were careful in our intervention to build our submission on different - but not all - patterns of violations committed in Yemen to show how civilians are the only affected target of this war. We hope the British judiciary will take that seriously”.
Arms such as Typhoon and Tornado aircrafts and bombs such as the Paveway IV have been licenced and sold to Saudi Arabia and used in airstrikes in Yemen. Oxfam Peace and Conflict Advisor, Martin Buther concluded: "In Yemen, devastating attacks on civilians have been commonplace, leading to death and injury, forcing millions of people to flee their homes.
"That's why it’s essential the legality of UK arms sales is examined and arms sales must be immediately stopped".
For more information visit Campaign Against Arms Trade HERE
Get the top stories straight to your inbox by signing up to our what's on newsletter
READ NEXT
Nicola Bulley latest updates as hunt for missing mum continues
Mum's fury as kids' school dinners 'taken from plates' over debt
Schoolgirl approached by 'suspicious' man as police hunt for suspect
Popular dad who had 'enormous impact on many lives' found dead at home
Martin Lewis halts ITV Money Show Live to issue warning after being 'triggered' on air
