May 18, 2016: The US Senate adopts a Bill that would allow the Victims of the 9/11 Attacks to sue Saudi Arabia while the White House says, the President Barack Obama opposed the legislation.
Saudi Arabia have denied the involvement in 9/11 attacks is said to have reportedly threatened to sell its USD 750 Billion worth of investments in America after such legislation became a Law.
White House Spokesperson, Josh Ernest said, The Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act(JASTA) passed generally on Tuesday, and said “the legislation would change the venerable international Law regarding Sovereign Immunity”
The US President continues to “strongly oppose” against the adoption of the bill eroding the principle of sovereign Immunity that would make the US States vulnerable around the world increasing the vulnerability of interests in foreign courts, and given the concerns, it is difficult to imagine that the president signing this legislation would continues to be true, said the Media Spokesperson.
If the legislation passed, it would allow the victims of the terror attacks and the family members to bring lawsuits against nation states for activities.
John Cornyn said, ”Victims and families who have lost their loved ones in the 9/11 terror attacks deserve the opportunity to seek justice”. The United States need to use every tool available to stop financing terrorism on a massive scale.
Charles Schumer during the passage of Bill said that ”he will fight hard in the House until the Bill is passed and signs it into a law” because the victims of the terror attack should not be denied justice. The victims and families have suffered such pain and have lost their loved ones during the terror attack.
Justice Against sponsors of Terrorism(JASTA) amended (FSIA)Foreign sovereign Immunity Act so that foreign sponsors of terrorism cannot invoke sovereign immunity from a terrorist attack that kills someone on American soil and also will support the victims to seek justice.
The bill allows Americans to direct financial damage claims against those who funded the attacks and also afford this opportunity to the families of other victims of terrorism on US soil that have occurred on September 11, 2001. It also includes an important new tool for the Executive Branch to stay litigation including related cases, not against the foreign state itself if the government certifies that it is involved in good faith discussions to resolve the matter.
US District Judge George Daniels in Manhattan, New York, said Saudi Arabia had sovereign immunity from damage claims by families of nearly 3,000 people killed in the attacks, and that have covered the loses of building owners and business.
