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Saudi Arabia rejects JASTA for violating principle of sovereign immunity

Xinhua, September 30, 2016 Adjust font size:

Saudi Arabia rejected on Thursday the recently passed U.S. law "JASTA", highlighting that the enactment of law is of great concern.

An official at the Saudi Foreign Affairs Ministry said in a statement on Saudi Press Agency that nations object to the erosion of the principle of sovereign immunity, which has governed international relations for hundreds of years.

The source further stated that the erosion of sovereign immunity will have a negative impact on all nations, including the United States.

The official source also noted that that is why the President, the Secretary of Defense, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Director of the CIA have expressed their opposition to JASTA as it has been drafted.

The source elaborated that JASTA has been opposed publicly by many nations as well as dozens of American national security experts who see the dangers that JASTA represents.

The official source concluded by expressing hope that wisdom will prevail and that Congress will take the necessary steps to correct this legislation in order to avoid the serious unintended consequences that may ensue.

The controversial bill was pushed forward with the 15th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attack as some U.S. politicians are pushing for the right of the families of the victims to sue Saudi Arabia for compensations, which is something that was strongly rejected by the Kingdom and its alliances.

U.S. Congress voted on Wednesday to override President Barack Obama's veto of the bill allowing families of the victims of the Sept. 11 terror attacks to sue Saudi Arabia. Enditem