NN Desk :
Saudi Arabia has rejected the US Congressional approval of the act that would allow the families of victims of the 9/11 attacks to sue Riyadh for damages, claiming it weakens the sovereign immunity of the nation.
Besides, six Gulf Arab countries have blasted the bill passed by the US Congress while Russia has also slammed the legislation as undermining international law.
According to a Saudi Foreign Ministry source, who spoke with the state-run Saudi Press Agency, the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act [JASTA] will contribute to the “erosion” of the principle of sovereign immunity, one of the cornerstones of conduct in international relations. The law, the source claimed, will also have a negative impact on all nations, including the United States.
The diplomat stressed that many other nations and experts oppose JASTA because of the “dangers” the bill represents, as seen by the opposition posed to it by President Barack Obama and the US Secretary of Defense, Ash Carter.
The official, however, expressed “hope that wisdom will prevail and that Congress will take the necessary steps to correct this legislation in order to avoid the serious unintended consequences that may ensue.”
On Wednesday, Congress in a 348-77 vote chose to override the presidential veto which Obama had used last week.
Also known as House Resolution 3815, JASTA creates an exception to the sovereign immunity law introduced in 1976, allowing US citizens to sue foreign countries for acts of terrorism that kill Americans on US soil.
The sovereign immunity law had been invoked to shield Saudi Arabia from lawsuits over the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
Fifteen of the 19 men who hijacked commercial airliners and used them as missiles to target the World Trade Center and the Pentagon on that date were subjects of the Gulf kingdom. Riyadh has denied backing the hijackers.
Earlier in September, the Saudi-led Gulf Cooperation Council expressed “deep concern” about the bill, with Secretary General Abdullatif al-Zayani calling it “contrary to the foundations and principles of relations between states.”
Established in 1981, the GCC consists of Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates. In a separate statement, the government of Qatar said JASTA “violates international law, particularly the principle of sovereign equality between states,” according to Reuters.
“Such laws will negatively affect the international efforts and international cooperation to combat terrorism,” said the UAE Foreign Minister, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, according to state news agency WAM.
Meanwhile, six Gulf Arab countries have blasted the bill passed by the US Congress that would allow Americans to sue Saudi Arabia over the 9/11 attacks, calling it a dangerous precedent and attack on sovereignty.
Their concerns were echoed by the Arab League.
The US House of Representatives unanimously passed the JASTA on Friday while a version of the bill had passed in the Senate in May, also without opposition.
The Federal Sovereign Immunities Act of 1976 had been used to shield Saudi Arabia from lawsuits over the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. JASTA creates an exception to FSIA, allowing US citizens to sue foreign countries for terrorism that kills Americans on US soil. Fifteen out of nineteen of the men that hijacked commercial airliners and used them as missiles to take down the World Trade Center and damage the Pentagon were Saudi subjects.
On Monday, the Saudi-led Gulf Cooperation Council expressed “deep concern” about the bill, with Secretary General Abdullatif al-Zayani calling it “contrary to the foundations and principles of relations between states and the principle of sovereign immunity enjoyed by states,” AP reported.
Established in 1981, the GCC consists of Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates.
In a separate statement, the government of Qatar said JASTA “violates international law, particularly the principle of sovereign equality between states,” according to Reuters.
“Such laws will negatively affect the international efforts and international cooperation to combat terrorism,” said the Emirates Foreign Minister, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, according to the state news agency WAM. Two of the 9/11 hijackers were Emirati.
Saudi Arabia has rejected the US Congressional approval of the act that would allow the families of victims of the 9/11 attacks to sue Riyadh for damages, claiming it weakens the sovereign immunity of the nation.
Besides, six Gulf Arab countries have blasted the bill passed by the US Congress while Russia has also slammed the legislation as undermining international law.
According to a Saudi Foreign Ministry source, who spoke with the state-run Saudi Press Agency, the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act [JASTA] will contribute to the “erosion” of the principle of sovereign immunity, one of the cornerstones of conduct in international relations. The law, the source claimed, will also have a negative impact on all nations, including the United States.
The diplomat stressed that many other nations and experts oppose JASTA because of the “dangers” the bill represents, as seen by the opposition posed to it by President Barack Obama and the US Secretary of Defense, Ash Carter.
The official, however, expressed “hope that wisdom will prevail and that Congress will take the necessary steps to correct this legislation in order to avoid the serious unintended consequences that may ensue.”
On Wednesday, Congress in a 348-77 vote chose to override the presidential veto which Obama had used last week.
Also known as House Resolution 3815, JASTA creates an exception to the sovereign immunity law introduced in 1976, allowing US citizens to sue foreign countries for acts of terrorism that kill Americans on US soil.
The sovereign immunity law had been invoked to shield Saudi Arabia from lawsuits over the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
Fifteen of the 19 men who hijacked commercial airliners and used them as missiles to target the World Trade Center and the Pentagon on that date were subjects of the Gulf kingdom. Riyadh has denied backing the hijackers.
Earlier in September, the Saudi-led Gulf Cooperation Council expressed “deep concern” about the bill, with Secretary General Abdullatif al-Zayani calling it “contrary to the foundations and principles of relations between states.”
Established in 1981, the GCC consists of Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates. In a separate statement, the government of Qatar said JASTA “violates international law, particularly the principle of sovereign equality between states,” according to Reuters.
“Such laws will negatively affect the international efforts and international cooperation to combat terrorism,” said the UAE Foreign Minister, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, according to state news agency WAM.
Meanwhile, six Gulf Arab countries have blasted the bill passed by the US Congress that would allow Americans to sue Saudi Arabia over the 9/11 attacks, calling it a dangerous precedent and attack on sovereignty.
Their concerns were echoed by the Arab League.
The US House of Representatives unanimously passed the JASTA on Friday while a version of the bill had passed in the Senate in May, also without opposition.
The Federal Sovereign Immunities Act of 1976 had been used to shield Saudi Arabia from lawsuits over the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. JASTA creates an exception to FSIA, allowing US citizens to sue foreign countries for terrorism that kills Americans on US soil. Fifteen out of nineteen of the men that hijacked commercial airliners and used them as missiles to take down the World Trade Center and damage the Pentagon were Saudi subjects.
On Monday, the Saudi-led Gulf Cooperation Council expressed “deep concern” about the bill, with Secretary General Abdullatif al-Zayani calling it “contrary to the foundations and principles of relations between states and the principle of sovereign immunity enjoyed by states,” AP reported.
Established in 1981, the GCC consists of Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates.
In a separate statement, the government of Qatar said JASTA “violates international law, particularly the principle of sovereign equality between states,” according to Reuters.
“Such laws will negatively affect the international efforts and international cooperation to combat terrorism,” said the Emirates Foreign Minister, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, according to the state news agency WAM. Two of the 9/11 hijackers were Emirati.
