"Norway helps dictators"

"It's awful in Yemen right now," Mejalli told Ny Tid. She was active during the Arab Spring, and has received the Bjørnson Prize for her work as a human rights activist. She herself lives in Norway and is married to a Norwegian journalist, but her whole family is left in Yemen. "People do not have water and electricity, and you hear the bombs so that it is difficult to sleep. Saudi Arabia and the coalition are bombing basic facilities such as factories, schools and hospitals. "
Her family is doing its best to have a normal life amidst the chaos of war. Mejalli's brother has chosen to continue his studies at the university, although it is dangerous. "I would rather die while studying than die while just waiting for the planes to bomb me," he told his sister.
"It is shameful and sad, but it is not surprising that Norway does this," Mejalli says when she learns that Norway is still exporting weapons to the United Arab Emirates. «Norway gives peace prize with one hand and sells weapons with the other. It's double standards. "

"Norway gives peace prize with one hand and sells weapons with the other."

Slow statements. Mejalli believes it takes too long for people to know who Norway is exporting weapons to. The Storting report describing the sale in 2014 will be processed by the Storting now in April – two years later. "People need information to do something about it. We need to know about it in advance, not after the decision is made. That is not fair, because I do not think that the Norwegian people want to contribute to the war in Yemen, ”says Mejalli.
Mejalli is also not impressed by the Foreign Ministry's reference to this being a legitimate war. The Saudi-led coalition entered Yemen at the request of internationally acclaimed President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi. "It is so sad that Norway has bought this version – here they are talking Saudi Arabia by mouth," says Mejalli. “Almost no one supports the president. People see him as a traitor, because it was he who gave the coalition the right to go to war in Yemen. People think he has created the war in the country by working with the Gulf countries, ”Mejalli says.

Must make a decision. "After the Arab Spring, the Gulf countries embarked on a tremendous military upheaval. These are rich countries that have no respect for human rights and that oppress women, ”says Mejalli.
"Unfortunately, it is quite clear that Norway is helping the dictators in Arab countries, and not ordinary people. Norway makes it more difficult for people like me to talk about what is happening, because Norway also sells weapons and helps Saudi Arabia and the Emirates strengthen their military presence in the Middle East. Now it is important that Norway makes a decision on how we want to be seen in the world. ”

See the related case here