UK-made arms to Saudis massacring Yemenis: Amnesty

Amnesty International has urged the British people to petition their lawmakers to pressure the UK government to immediately halt arms transfers to Saudi Arabia.

According to Press TV, the UK-based human rights group said in a statement on Thursday Riyadh is launching indiscriminate attacks against Yemeni schools, hospitals, mosques and funeral halls, and London risks complicity in acts that amount to war crimes.

“Schools, hospitals, mosques, funeral halls - it seems nothing is off-limits for the Saudi Arabia-led coalition and their campaign of air strikes on Yemen,” Amnesty said in its petition.

“We know that UK-made weapons are amongst those claiming Yemeni lives. By continuing to supply Saudi Arabia and the coalition with arms, the UK risks complicity in acts that may amount to war crimes,” it added.

“The UK government is now being taken to court over the legality of these arms transfers – and they are feeling the pressure. Now is the time to act. Tell your MP to call for an immediate end to UK's arms transfers to Saudi Arabia.”

The prominent rights organization has previously condemned London for licensing arms worth billions of pounds to Riyadh despite damning evidence of atrocities being committed.

Massive British arms sales to Saudi Arabia have come under scrutiny for months due to the kingdom’s role in inflicting heavy civilian casualties through its bombing campaign across Yemen.

The UK High Court is set to review the country’s weapons deals with Saudi Arabia, after activists accused the government of British Prime Minister Theresa May of complicity in Riyadh’s war crimes against Yemen.

ME