Miriam Saage-Maaß: European arms companies may be liable to prosecution for aiding war crimes in Yemen

European arms companies may be liable to prosecution for aiding war crimes in Yemen, lawyer Miriam Saage-Maaß argues

The European Centre for Constitutional and Human Rights (ECCHR) has filed a criminal charge against Rheinmetall, Airbus and others to the International Criminal Court for aiding and abetting war crimes in Yemen.

The Executive Boards and top managers of at least eight European arms companies may be liable to prosecution, as they could have aided and abetted war crimes in Yemen by supplying combat aircraft and bombs. It’s common knowledge that the air fleet of the Saudi Arabia-led military coalition is responsible for human-rights abuses against the civilian population in the Yemen conflict.

For instance, remains of weapons were found at the site of an air attack in which a family of six were killed. This points to the use of a guided bomb made by RWM Italia S.p.A. – a subsidiary of the German arms manufacturer Rheinmetall AG. In turn, these bombs can clearly only be dropped by aircraft of the kind built and delivered to Saudi Arabia by firms including Airbus.

It’s a principle of international criminal law that those who help other persons to commit crimes against international law by providing the requisite tools are also liable to prosecution. This concept must also be applied to those in charge of major weapons corporations.