US House allows victims of 9/11 to sue Saudi Arabia

WASHINGTON: The House of Representatives passed legislation on Friday that would allow victims of the 9/11 attacks and their relatives to sue foreign governments

WASHINGTON: The House of Representatives passed legislation on Friday that would allow victims of the 9/11 attacks and their relatives to sue foreign governments suspected of backing acts of terrorism against the United States.

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The Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act — approved in the House by unanimous voice vote some four months after its Senate passage — is strongly opposed by the government of Saudi Arabia, the home nation of 15 of the 19 hijackers in the September 11, 2001 attacks.

It now heads to President Barack Obama’s desk, just days before the 15th anniversary of 9/11. The White House has signalled its opposition to the measure because it would waive the doctrine of sovereign immunity that protects nation states from civil suits or criminal prosecution.

“This legislation would change long-standing, international law regarding sovereign immunity. And the president of the United States continues to harbour serious concerns that this legislation would make the United States vulnerable in other court systems around the world,” White House spokesman Josh Earnest said back in May, after the Senate approved the bill. The measure would allow 9/11 families to pursue cases in federal court against foreign governments, notably Saudi Arabia.