International Shia News Agency
Featured

Jeremy Corbyn calls to stop arms sales to Saudi Arabia

SHAFAQNA – Jeremy Corbyn, the leader of the UK’s main opposition Labor Party, has called for a halt in arms sales to Saudi Arabia and a ceasefire in Yemen.

Since the start of war in Yemen, the UK has approved arms export licenses to Saudi Arabia worth $4.1bn, according to London-based Campaign against the Arms Trade.

In an interview Corbyn said: “We have constantly condemned the use of these weapons by Saudi Arabia in Yemen, and called for the suspension of the arms sales to Saudi Arabia to show that we are wanting a peace process in Yemen, not an invasion by Saudi Arabia.

“We’ve made that very clear.”

Yemen has been devastated by a war led by Saudi Arabia’s military coalition.

More than 10,000 people have been killed and at least 40,000 injured in Yemen since March 20, mostly from Saudi-led air strikes, according to the United Nations.

The Saudi-led air campaign and subsequent blockade has created a humanitarian disaster in the Arab world’s poorest country. Cholera is on the rise and nearly 70 percent of the population is dependent on aid.

“I’m totally shocked by the war in Yemen. Totally shocked, by the bombardment that’s taken place, by the killings that have happened, by the cholera outbreak that’s now rife. And the numbers who are affected, the numbers who have already died,” Corbyn said.

More than 1,300 people have died of cholera since late April, in the second outbreak of the infection in less than a year.

In March, the UN’s World Food Programme said that nearly half of Yemen’s 22 provinces were on the verge of famine.

Corbyn said the Labor party had called on the previous British government to suspend its arms sales to Saudi Arabia, and would continue to do so in the next.

“We have already put that resolution to parliament in the last parliament. We’ll continue to do that when there’s a new parliament formed after this general election. Our policy of the Labor Party is unchanged,” he said.

The Labor leader also touched on alleged instances, revealed in two separate investigations last week, of forced disappearances, arbitrary detention, torture and abuse by troops backed by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in Yemen.

“All of those allegations have to be investigated, and the evidence has to come forward,” said Corbyn.

“And arms sales policy has to reflect that we do not believe those countries that commit abuses of human rights or kill civilians with the use of those weapons should continue to receive British arms.”

Last week rights groups and activists called on the UK to end arms sales to Saudi Arabia and its allies, warning that continuing to do so may be a violation of international law.

A statement issued by the Arab Organization for Human Rights in the UK (AOHR) said British manufactured weapons sold to Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt were being used to carry out abuses in Yemen and Libya.

“[AOHR] is calling on the UK government to review its role in the sale of arms to a number of Arab governments that are known for gross human rights violation,” the statement read.

“A Saudi-led coalition has killed hundreds of Yemenis, destroyed scores of homes in addition to obliterating most of Yemen’s core infrastructure,” the AOHR said, adding: “Saudi Arabia has also turned a blind eye to the atrocities committed by UAE in southern parts of the country.”

In Libya, the UAE has transferred British-produced arms to the renegade Libyan general Khalifa Haftar, who is also accused of a raft of abuses, including indiscriminate bombing of civilian areas and summary executions.

Related posts

Unemployment among Saudis down to 7.7% in fourth quarter of 2023

nafiseh yazdani

Saudi Arabia: Uemployment rate at its lowest level due to increase in female employment

bahramian

Saudi Arabia provides 24-hour healthcare for pilgrims during Ramadhan

nafiseh yazdani

Saudi Arabia:More than 8 million perform Umrah in first half of Ramadhan

nasibeh yazdani

Saudi Arabia: 4-day Eid Al-Fitr holiday for non-profit sectors

nasibeh yazdani

London’s Iconic Tate Modern Art gallery Hosts Open Iftar

nasibeh yazdani

Leave a Comment