This September, DSEI, one of the world’s largest arms fairs, returns to the Excel Centre in Newham, London. At DSEI, deadly weapons and military technology will be marketed to representatives of states that have committed war crimes and human rights violations. This includes some of those listed by the British Foreign Office as human rights priorities, such as Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Bahrain and Iraq.

The arms fair is organised by Clarion Events and the government’s arms sales unit, Defence & Security Exports, a civil service body that exists solely to promote arms sales. Government support is crucial to the success of DSEI and its continued existence.

Mayor Sadiq Khan has previously outlined his opposition to DSEI due to its role in perpetuating human rights abuses. In his last election manifesto, he committed to exploring “all possible options to end it being hosted in the city”. We are writing to ask him to act on this pledge to prevent DSEI being hosted in London later this year. 

Unless he acts, London will play host to delegations from a range of human rights abusing states, who meet with international arms companies that produce weapons and military technology used to target civilian populations around the world.

Among the list of invitees are delegates from Saudi Arabia despite the country’s brutal repression of dissidents and continued bombing of Yemen - exacerbating the world’s worst humanitarian crisis.

Representatives of the Israeli military are also likely to attend, even though the UN Human Rights Council resolved last year that states should not transfer arms to Israel because of its systematic violations of human rights. Israeli weapons manufacturer Elbit Systems will also be exhibiting. The company has been subject to divestment and exclusion by a range of financial institutions due its manufacture of weaponry used to violate human rights, and its involvement in banned cluster munitions.

Many people whose lives have been torn apart by the type of weapons exhibited at DSEI have sought refuge in London. While it is right that the city provides a home to them, it should not be so welcoming to the arms dealers and oppressive states that have upended their lives and killed their friends and families.  

Yet, as their representative, Sadiq Khan has not been able to stop an event contributing to the violence that they and their communities face. Ending this heinous event must be at the top of his agenda. 

We are calling on Sadiq Khan to take the following actions to prevent DSEI from taking place:

1. Write to the event organisers, Clarion Events, to let it know, on behalf of residents of the City, that the fair is unwelcome. 

2. Use your position to publicly speak out against the fair. 

3. Use the Mayor’s discretion to recover the costs of policing the event from DSEI’s organisers.

4. Tell the Excel Centre that no further GLA or Mayoral events will be held there while it continues to host DSEI. 

5. Meet with campaigning groups working to oppose the fair to discuss further actions you can take to ensure the event does not go ahead. 

 

The following organisations/community groups are putting forward this petition:

Campaign Against Arms Trade

Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND)

CND North East Scotland/Campaigning for Peace

Greater Rushmoor Action for Peace

Huddersfield Quakers

Japanese Against Nuclear-Japan

Medact

Menwith Hill Accountability Campaign 

Newham Muslim Forum

Palestine Solidarity Campaign

Peace Pledge Union

Quaker Roots

Scientists for Global Responsibility

Stop the Arms Fair Coalition

Three Counties Campaign Against Arms Trade

War on Want

Women's International League for Peace and Freedom

Woodcraft Folk