It’s time for Britain to drop hypocrisy over rule of law

Last month, the British Court of Appeal ruled that British arms sales to Saudi Arabia were illegal, as they were likely being used against civilians in the Saudi invasion of Yemen, violating international humanitarian law that binds the UK. The government is appealing the decision, keen to continue supporting the Saudi led war in Yemen, despite the massive humanitarian and human rights crisis it has provoked.

An investigative piece in The Guardian of June 18th outlined the extensive and pervasive role of the UK in the war in Yemen, declaring that Saudi Arabia had effectively “contracted out vital parts of its war against Yemen’s Houthi movement to the US and the UK. Britain does not merely supply weapons for this war: it provides the personnel and expertise required to keep the war going.”