High Court grants legal challenge against British arms sales to Saudi Arabia

Campaigners and lawyers say the sales are unlawful

A judicial review has been granted into the legality of UK arms sales to Saudi Arabia, whose special police unit perform during a parade in Mecca (Getty)

British courts could ban the Government from signing off arms sales to Saudi Arabia after the first hurdle to a legal challenge was cleared.

The High Court on Thursday granted a judicial review into the legality of UK arms sales to Saudi Arabia after a bid by campaigners and lawyers, who say the sales are unlawful.

MPs on the international development committee and MEPs in the European Parliament earlier this year called on the Government to stop selling weapons to the autocratic petro-state.

Saudi Arabia’s ongoing bombing campaign in Yemen has been accused of serious atrocities by observers and the United Nations, including carnage at schools, hospitals, and weddings.

Ministers have however resisted the calls and instead ploughed on with granting export licenses as British arms companies cash in on the conflict amid soaring sales of bombs and other weapons.

After months of inaction by ministers, campaigners have decided to take the Government to court to get the sales declared unlawful.

Rosa Curling from the human rights team at Leigh Day, which is representing the Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT), said: “Our clients are delighted the court has recognised this important claim must now progress to a full substantive hearing.

“The decision taken by the Secretary of State to continue to grant new licences for the sale of arms to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is unlawful.

“There is overwhelming evidence that the Saudi-led coalition has committed serious breaches of international humanitarian law in Yemen.

“The UK Government must ensure it is not allowing weapons from this country to be provided where there is such a clear risk they will be involved in the tragic and horrific events taking place in Yemen.”

Andrew Smith of CAAT said: “This is a historic decision and we welcome the fact that arms exports to Saudi Arabia will be given the full scrutiny of a legal review, but they should never have been allowed in the first place.

“The fact that UK aircraft and bombs are being used against Yemen is a terrible sign of how broken the arms export control system is. For too long Government has focused on maximising and promoting arms sales, rather than on the human rights of those they are used against.”

Earlier this year a magistrates' court acquitted arms trade protests who blocked a road outside the DSEI arms fair in London's docklands in September 2015.

The judge said there was evidence to suggest they were preventing a larger crime from being committed because there may have been illegal arms sales going on inside the event. DSEI's organisers say they comply with all rules and regulations.

A Government spokesperson said: “The Government respects the decision of the Court and will comply fully with the hearing. We do not comment on ongoing legal matters.”