In response to Minister Chrystia Freeland’s announcement today that the Canadian government will place sanctions on 17 Saudi nationals believed to be involved in the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, Amnesty International Human Rights Law and Policy Campaigner, Justin Mohammed, said:
“We welcome Minister Freeland’s reiteration of Canada’s position that there must be a credible and independent investigation into the murder of Jamal Khashoggi, and continue to look to Canada to champion the call for this investigation to be internationally-led by the United Nations. Moreover, this does not erase the fact that Canada still holds an active $15-billion multi-year Light Armoured Vehicles (LAV) deal with Saudi Arabia, which could be used to attack civilians in Yemen. Earlier this month, Finland, Denmark and Germany halted their arms sales to the Kingdom, but Canada still refuses to act. Continuing to sell arms to Saudi Arabia risks Canadian complicity in the commission of war crimes in Yemen, where we are witnessing one of the worst human rights atrocities of our time. Canada must show leadership by halting LAV sales to Saudi Arabia and supporting the rights and dignity of the Yemeni people, as well as calling for a UN-led investigation into the murder of Jamal Khashoggi.”
For more information, or to request an interview, please contact:
Lucy Scholey, Amnesty International Canada (English): +1 613-744-7667 ext. 236; lscholey@amnesty.ca
