As David Cameron prepares to meet Qatari emir, arms trade campaigners say he should focus on human rights

This article is more than 5 years old

This article is more than 5 years old

Britain is planning to increase the sale of arms to Qatar, identifying the rich Gulf state as a “priority market” for its weapons, documents seen by the Guardian show.

Last year the Qatari Amiri Guard ordered more than £3m-worth of British-made Heckler and Koch assault rifles, according to a copy of a “purchase order” document obtained by the Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT).

The UK has approved export licences for the sale of £23m-worth of weapons to Qatar since 2008, most in the last 12 months. They include assault rifles and components for machine guns.

For the first time, Britain set up a national UK pavilion at the annual Milipol military equipment exhibition in Doha, the Qatari capital, earlier this month.

Qatar is on a list of countries described as a “priority market” for UK arms sales, ministers have told parliament.

The British sales team at the Doha exhibition was led by Richard Paniguian, head of UK Trade and Investment Defence and Security Organisation. He was reported by the Gulf Times as saying: “Qatar is an important partner and we are continuing to deepen and strengthen our security relationships including the cyber sector … ”

Andrew Smith of CAAT said: “Qatar is an authoritarian state with a terrible human rights record. The UK government has actively promoted arms sales that have directly strengthened the regime, and is continuing to do so.”

He added: “When David Cameron meets with the Qatari leaders this week he should be talking about human rights and democracy.”