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A lunchtime review of this momentous morning - where are we now? This morning the Court of Appeal found the government had broken the law over arms sales for use in #Yemen caat.org.uk/media/press-re… #StopArmingSaudi (Thread)
The court found that the government's process for deciding on export licenses to Saudi was ‘irrational and therefore unlawful’.
It found that the government had made no attempt to assess the evidence of past violations of International Humanitarian Law (IHL) by the Coalition in #Yemen or come to any conclusion as to whether IHL violations had taken place
The judges said: "The question whether there was an historic pattern of breaches of IHL ... was a question which required to be faced."
The decisions the UK government has taken, both about whether to issue new licences, and about whether to suspend existing licences, now have to be taken again. #StopArmingSaudi
However, the Court has clarified in its press statement that “The decision of the court today does not mean that licences to export arms to Saudi Arabia must immediately be suspended.”
Here's the 'Minute of order' judiciary.uk/wp-content/upl… and the Press summary from the court judiciary.uk/wp-content/upl…
The UK government undertook not to issue any new licences for the export of arms or military equipment to Saudi Arabia for possible use in the conflict in #Yemen until it has retaken the decisions based on a lawful procedure.
The assessment of whether there is a 'clear risk' of future violations of IHL must include a proper assessment, where possible, of possible past violations of IHL. #StopArmingSaudi
That is, unless the government obtains a ‘stay’ of the judgment (a court order that temporarily suspends the judgment) pending appeal – this would have to be agreed by the Court. The government has until 27 June to put in for a formal appeal.
But what next? The government has already said it disagrees with this morning's judgment and will seek to appeal. Not really a surprise... it has fought this every step of the way and will do all it can to keep the weapons flowing to Saudi Arabia...
Campaign Against Arms Trade is calling for an immediate end to arms sales to Saudi Arabia and to UK support for the war in #Yemen. We will continue to do all we can to make that happen. #StopArmingSaudi
Tens of thousands of people have been killed in this terrible war. Schools, hospitals, weddings, and funerals have been bombed and #Yemen faces the world’s worst humanitarian crisis.
We know that UK weapons have played a central role in these attacks. The UK government is a partner in these crimes – and it has done all it can to keep the weapons flowing. #StopArmingSaudi
This case lays clear that the government is not seeking to control arms sales. The UK government prioritises securing more arms deals over the lives and human rights of Yemenis and over its own commitments on arms controls.
We are told time and time again about how ‘rigorous’ and ‘robust’ UK rules on arms sales are. But this government is not using the rules to limit arms sales: instead it uses them to legitimise them while carrying on with business as usual.
It will need all of us to hold it to account and stop these arms sales once and for all.
It's definitely not over. If you can please email your MP today caat.org.uk/unlawful #StopArmingSaudi
