The Court of Appeal in The Hague today, Tuesday, May 17, ruled on appeal that the Netherlands may continue to supply arms to Egypt. A coalition of peace and human rights organizations filed summary proceedings against the Dutch State to stop arms exports to Egypt.<\/p>\n
The Netherlands supplies weapons systems to the Egyptian armed forces, which can thereby contribute to serious human rights violations of the local population in North Sinai. These include advanced radar and communication systems to be built into war frigates. Such systems are the ears and eyes of an armed force, and can play a role in directing military force in North Sinai. Egypt is also a partner of Saudi Arabia, which has now been fighting a war in Yemen for more than seven years.<\/p>\n
The organizations Peace Organization PAX, Stop Arms Trade and the Dutch Lawyers Committee for Human Rights (NJCM) react with disappointment. Even if the weapons have not yet been exported, NGOs must demonstrate that these weapons will be used in violations of international law. The Court thereby sets the bar so high that it is almost impossible for human rights and peace organizations to stop arms shipments. Despite the many warning lights going off about the worrisome human rights situation in North Sinai, the Court still rules that the Netherlands may continue to supply weapons to Egypt.<\/p>\n
Michel Uiterwaal of peace organization PAX explains, “To stop arms deliveries to a country like Egypt, we now almost have to predict the future. We continue to believe that the Netherlands should not supply arms when there are indications of imminent human rights violations in Egypt, but the Court unfortunately rules otherwise.”<\/p>\n
Wendela de Vries of Stop Arms Trade stresses, “Despite the fact that the State has many more resources at its disposal, it does not appear to have all the facts about human rights violations by the Egyptian army on its own. How then can a proper assessment about an arms export be made? We will continue to monitor the situation in Egypt and will also sound the alarm on future licenses if necessary.”<\/p>\n