Arab, International Relations Council warns against “JASTA” repercussions

Arab and International Relations Council warned against the economic and political repercussions of a recently approved U.S. bill which allows the families of 9/11 victims to sue Saudi Arabia for damages, according to KUNA.

The Council said in a statement, at the conclusion of its 6th meeting Tuesday, that the 9/11 bill, or formally known as Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act (JASTA), will create a judicial "mess" for the U.S. Government and its people.

The bill overrides sovereign immunity law that protects nations from any civil suit or criminal prosecution.

The Council called on the U.S. Congress to rectify the bill which has been challenged by many international blocs such as the European Union, Asean, the African Union and the Arab League.

JASTA was passed by US Congress last week. It creates an exception to the sovereign immunity law introduced in 1976, allowing Americans to sue foreign countries for acts of terrorism that kill Americans on US soil.

The Arab International Council was established in Kuwait in 2009 as an independent nonprofit Arab organization.

Source: MENA