Al-Haq is disappointed to have to inform our friends that the Appeal Committee of the House of Lords has refused permission for leave to appeal to the House of Lords in the case of Saleh Hasan v UK Secretary for Trade and Industry.  

In November 2007, the UK High Court of Justice initially rejected Mr. Saleh Hasan’s claim, filed by Public Interest Lawyers (PIL) in cooperation with Al-Haq, requesting the UK government to clarify its position on its arms-related licensing agreements with Israel. In particular, the claim sought to require the UK government to reveal how it satisfies its own criteria that material sold under these agreements is not used in the commission of human rights abuses in the OPT.

The Court of Appeal, however, found there to be strategic questions with regard to the High Court’s rejection of the claim and granted an appeal on 11 February 2008.
The Court of Appeal unfortunately determined on 25 November 2008 that:

“the subject matter is generally sensitive, such that unguarded publication is likely to be on occasions damaging.  Parliamentary scrutiny, with a possibility of receiving information in closed session, is thus to be seen as preferable.”

Following the rejection of the appeal, PIL, with the full support and cooperation of Al-Haq and Mr. Saleh Hasan initiated proceedings before the House of Lords, the highest appellate court in the UK.
Al-Haq would like to thank all of those who have supported the case along the way, particularly, Solicitor Phil Shiner and the entire PIL team, and of course Mr. Saleh Hasan, who continues to endure the hardships caused by the loss of his land at the hands of the Israeli occupying power.

While this decision is a set back in the pursuit of justice and accountability, Al-Haq and its partners will continue to push forward and seek justice in all available forums.

Full information and documents relating to the case are available here.

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