Mauritania expresses "concern" over new anti-terror law passed in U.S.

Mauritania is "deeply concerned" with the recent adoption by the U.S. Congress of a law dubbed "The Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act," the country's foreign ministry said on Thursday in a statement released in Nouakchott.

"The Islamic Republic of Mauritania is concerned over the consequences of adoption by the U.S. Congress of The Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act, given its contradiction with rules governing relations between states," the statement said.

Adopted on Sept. 9, the law allows families of victims of terrorist attacks to seek justice in U.S. federal courts against foreign countries (whose citizens took part in the attacks) to get compensation, if the responsibility of these countries is established.

Mauritania's foreign ministry noted the "need to respect the principle of international law in all legislations touching on terrorism, especially the principle of judicial immunity of countries."

Mauritania equally expressed concern that "eventual interpretation of this law may lay responsibility on countries whenever their citizens carry out terrorist attacks."

"This will be application of domestic laws beyond the national territory, something which threatens the principle of sovereignty," the statement concluded.

In 2010, Mauritania adopted an anti-terrorism strategy that involved aerial bombardments against Al-Qaida in Islamic Maghreb which was operating in northern Mali. The strategy helped Mauritania end terror attacks on its territory.

The country is a major ally of Western countries engaged in the fight against terrorism across the world. Endit