ITALY DOES SELLING Developments in ARMS TO SAUDI 2018 ARABIA CONSTITUTE On 17 April 2018, the joint criminal by the European Center COMPLICITY IN WAR complaint for Constitutional and Human Rights (ECCHR), Yemen-based Mwatana CRIMES? RWM Italia Context Ongoing investigation against directors of RWM Italia S.p.A., an Italian arms manufacturer, and against Italian government officials who authorized arms exports to Saudi Arabia, and for complicity in murder and bodily injury Suspects Current and former CEOs and directors of RWM Italia S.p.A. (a subsidiary of German-based Rheinmetall AG), and Italian government officials from Italy’s National Authority for the Export of Armament (UAMA); suspected individuals are German and Italian Country of residence of suspects Italy Organization for Human Rights, and Italian-based Rete Italiana per Il Disarmo, in cooperation with Osservatorio Permanente sulle Armi Leggere e le Politiche di Sicurezza e Difesa (O.P.A.L.), was filed with the public prosecutor in Rome. The prosecutor has opened an investigation, which is still ongoing. Current status Under investigation Facts The complaint denounces an air strike launched by the Saudi-led coalition in Deir Al-Hajari in Yemen on 8 October 2016, which allegedly killed six civilians. At the site of the airstrike, a suspension lug was found, manufactured by RWM Italia S.p.A. Further remnants indicate the use of a guided bomb. Testimonies of eye witnesses confirm that no military object was in the vicinity of the house that was targeted by the airstrike. In relation to the company’s directors and government officials, complicity through gross negligence in murder and bodily injury. The complaint alleges the criminal liability of RWM Italia S.p.A.’s directors and of UAMA officials for the export of at least a part of the deadly weapon used in the strike, to Saudi Arabia or another member state of the Saudiled military coalition. In addition, the complaint requests an investigation into the alleged abuse of power by the government officials. The International Criminal Court Statute has not been implemented in the Italian Criminal Code and, as a consequence, it was not possible to request an investigation into complicity in war crimes. Despite major warnings that the coalition warfare in Yemen causes significant loss of civilian life and breaches of international humanitarian law, exports of bombs and other weapons to coalition member states had not stopped and are still taking place. In Italy, the competent Italian Authority for the Charges 57 Export of Armament authorizes these exports of armaments manufactured in Italy. Read more about the case