March, 20 2018, 04:45pm EDT
For Immediate Release
Contact:
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7413 5566,After hours: +44 7778 472 126,Email:,press@amnesty.org
New Arms Deal Risks Trampling Human Rights
WASHINGTON
According to reports, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and U.S. President Trump finalized a new $12.5 billion arms deal in a meeting today at the White House. Raed Jarrar, advocacy director of Middle East North Africa at Amnesty International USA, issued this statement:
"By finalizing weapons deals worth billions of dollars with the government of Saudi Arabia, the Trump administration puts the U.S. at risk of being complicit in war crimes committed in Yemen. Arms manufactured in the United States have already been used in strikes against civilians, including one that killed the family of a five-year-old girl.
"The Trump administration must stop supplying arms to the Saudi-led coalition. U.S. weapon manufacturers must also ensure that their munitions will not be involved in violations of international law. Amnesty will continue to work with Congress to block these deals."
Amnesty International is a worldwide movement of people who campaign for internationally recognized human rights for all. Our supporters are outraged by human rights abuses but inspired by hope for a better world - so we work to improve human rights through campaigning and international solidarity. We have more than 2.2 million members and subscribers in more than 150 countries and regions and we coordinate this support to act for justice on a wide range of issues.
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