GENEVA – Geneva Council for Human Rights and Justice (GCHRJ) condemned on Thursday, Spain’s decision to continue selling arms to Saudi Arabia despite widespread international crime of Riyadh and its alleged war crimes in Yemen.
GCHRJ, an international human rights organization, said in a press statement that Spain’s intention to hand over 400 laser-guided bombs to Saudi Arabia after it had earlier ceased to cancel the controversial agreement signed between the two countries in 2015 would make Madrid a partner in the crimes against civilians in Yemen.
The Council confirmed that Madrid’s delivery of the controversial arms shipment to Saudi Arabia constitutes a violation of the international agreements against the crimes of the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen and demands that arms exports to Riyadh must be denied because of its involvement in internal and external violations.
The Human Rights Council condemned the position of the Spanish government on its economic interests with Saudi Arabia as a priority for its moral and humanitarian responsibility for the war crimes committed by humanity in Yemen.
Madrid and Riyadh were on the edge of a diplomatic crisis earlier this month after Spain’s defence ministry announced the cancellation of a 9.2 million euro deal to sell Saudi Arabia 400 laser-guided bombs.
The announcement came after an air strike carried out by the Saudi-led coalition last August in Yemen that killed dozens of civilians, including 40 children.
The Spanish announcement clearly rated a major deal worth 1.8 billion euros under which Riyadh would purchase five battleships. The deal was revived by the Spanish General Shipyards Company (Navantia).
The Geneva Council for Human Rights and Justice stressed that any economic considerations of Spain or other countries should not be a cover for participating directly or indirectly in the war crimes committed in Yemen because of the military intervention of the coalition led by Saudi Arabia, and called on Madrid to cancel its decision immediately.
Yemen has witnessed a war between Houthis and pro-government forces since 2014, with Saudi intervention at the head of the military alliance in March 2015. Since then, more than 10,000 people have been killed and caused the worst humanitarian crisis in the world, according to to the United Nations.
GCHRJ Deplores Spain’s Decision Selling Arms To Saudi Arabia Despite Crimes In Yemen
