Saudi FM pushes for amendments to JASTA bill

The Saudi foreign minister said in a statement yesterday that he tried to “persuade” US legislators to amend the JASTA bill, which allows American victims of 9/11 to sue Saudi Arabia.

At a joint press conference with US Secretary of State John Kerry, Adel Al-Jubair said: “We believe the law that curtails sovereign immunities represents a grave danger to the international system.” He went on to explain that the JASTA bill itself is a potential blow to US sovereignty and national security.

In September, the US senate passed the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act (JASTA) which allows US citizens to sue sponsors of terrorism.

Washington has accused Riyadh of having ties with 15 of the Al-Qaeda linked airplane hijackers who carried out the 9/11 attacks. Riyadh has repeatedly denied this claim.

The Senate passed the bill despite President Barack Obama vetoing it.