Denmark suspends arms sales to UAE for its role in Yemen conflict

COPENHAGEN, Jan. 17 (YPA) – Denmark suspended arms sales to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for its role in the humanitarian crisis in Yemen, according to local media reports on Thursday.

The move comes as a result of the UAE’s involvement in the conflict in Yemen, according to the Foreign Minister, Anders Samuelsen.

Samuelsen made the announcement at parliament, saying his ministry informed the directorate general of security, demanding to halt arms export permits for the UAE, local daily Information reported.

“It’s very positive news. Denmark shouldn’t be exporting weapons to a country that is involved in a conflict where violence abuse and probable war crimes against the civilian population are taking place,” Trine Christensen, the secretary general of Amnesty International Denmark said.

The decision comes on the heels of a similar suspension of arms exports to Saudi Arabia in November last year, due to Saudi involvement in the same conflict and in the wake of the murder of the journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi embassy in Turkey.

Since 2015, the UAE has been Saudi Arabia’s ally in the conflict in Yemen and the Saudis have been accused of committing war crimes.

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