40 German organizations call on Merkel to criminalize arms exports to Saudi Arabia

SANAA, Nov.3 (YPA) –  At least 40  German peace organizations on Friday have asked German Chancellor Angela Merkel to criminalize the export of arms to Saudi Arabia, on the backdrop of the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi inside the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul.

The claim came in a letter the organizations intend to hand over to Merkel next Monday and began a campaign of signatures to support the open letter.

“As the world recently witnessed the assassination of the Saudi journalist inside Saudi consulate in Istanbul, Saudi Arabia does not pay attention to the values of human rights, freedom of opinion and freedom of the press,” the letter read.

“At the same time, Saudi Arabia is leading a fierce war against Yemen since 2015, and it bears responsibility for the civilians’ casualties in Yemen,” the letter said.

The organizations appreciated Chancellor Merkel’s decision to suspend the export of arms to Saudi Arabia until what happened to journalist Khashoggi is clarified with more transparency and credibility.”

German activists launched a Web site to collect signatures from the largest number of organizations and individuals to show a rejection of the  German society for the crimes committed by Saudi Arabia.

E.M