Yemen 18

Reprieve: +44 (0) 7792 351 660  For immediate release: Sun April 19, 2015

German court to hear evidence from Yemeni drone victim for first time A court in Germany is set to take evidence from a Yemeni victim of the USA’s secret drone programme – in the wake of revelations that military bases on German soil play a key role in the strikes. Faisal bin Ali Jaber, an environmental engineer from Sana'a who lost two relatives to a 2012 drone strike, has won the right to give evidence next month, as part of a constitutional claim filed in Germany.  The claim, filed in October last year by international human rights organisation Reprieve and its German partner, the European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights (ECCHR), seeks measures by the German administration to stop the use of German territory for illegal actions by the U.S. in Yemen. They argue that the German government is acting in breach of the German constitution by allowing the U.S. to use its air base at Ramstein for illegal drone attacks abroad. Mr Jaber lost his brother-in-law Salim – a preacher – and nephew Waleed – a local police officer – to a US drone strike on the village of Khashamir on 29 August 2012. Salim often spoke out against extremism, and had used a sermon just days before he was killed to urge his congregation to reject Al Qaeda. The case represents the first time that a court in a country which provides support to the US drone programme will hear from one of its civilian victims. The U.S.’ campaign of drone strikes – carried out in secret by the CIA and U.S. Special Forces – has come in for widespread criticism due to a lack of transparency and accountability. Many legal experts have argued that it violates both domestic and international law, while humanitarians have warned of the large number of civilians killed in the strikes. Kat Craig, Legal Director at Reprieve and Mr bin Ali Jaber's lawyer: “This is a crucial step in efforts to gain accountability for the civilian victims of secret US drone strikes.  It also highlights that the US is not alone in this campaign – support is quietly provided by allies including Germany and the UK. Faisal’s story demonstrates how the misguided drone programme is not simply unacceptable, but deeply counterproductive. Not only is it killing civilians; it has even killed the very people who should be our allies in fighting extremism. Let's hope this marks the start of some long overdue scrutiny of a programme characterised by secrecy.” Andreas Schüller, Mr bin Ali Jaber's attorney at ECCHR, said: “Germany must now take effective measures to stop the US from using Ramsteinn airbase for combat drone missions." ENDS Notes to editors 1. For further information, please contact Reprieve’s UK press office: +44 (0) 7792 351 660 2. The case will be heard May 27th in Cologne, Germany.