Lawsuits Going after Saudi Arabia’s Role in 9/11 Increase

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Summary:  The seventh lawsuit against Saudi Arabia has been filed against their financial support in the terrorists’ attacks on 9/11.

With the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act (JASTA) enacted, at least seven lawsuits have popped up in federal courts under the law. The suits blame the Saudi government for supporting and funding the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. Just six months after former President Barack Obama fiercely opposed allowing the law to be enacted and Congress went against his wishes, the lawsuits have been rolling in.

  

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One lawsuit has consolidated most of the actions of the Saudi government was filed Monday in the U.S. District Court in Manhattan. The suit represents the families and estates of roughly 800 of the 2,996 people killed in the attacks, alleging that Saudi Arabia supported the attacks through their funding of al-Qaeda terrorist camps and transport of weapons, money, and people around the world.

The lawsuit does not specify damages, instead focusing on the money and support that was channeled through nine Saudi government-supported charities such as the International Federation of Red Cross, Red Crescent Societies, and Saudi Red Crescent Authority.

The accusations are pretty much the same as all the other lawsuits but have some added details. This suit claims that Saudi embassy officials helped the hijackers learn English and find homes to they could slip through unnoticed in the U.S. The suit even goes further to allege that Saudi authorities created a secret code for the passports of al-Qaeda members to make their international travel easier. They state that the codes were discovered on the passports of at least three of the 9/11 terrorists.

Most of the lawsuits that have been filed under the law have been on behalf of those affected by the attacks. One suit was brought by an insurance company hoping to recoup some of their losses.

A U.S. magistrate judge has ordered the plaintiffs lawyers and Saudi Arabia to appear in court Thursday to find a way to coordinate the multiple cases.

Do you think Saudi Arabia should be held responsible for their role in supporting terrorist groups? Tell us in the comments below.

To learn more about Saudi Arabia, read these articles:

• Lawsuit Revived Claiming Saudi Arabia Liable for Providing Support to al Qaeda 9/11 Attacks
• Saudi Arabia Bans Gays and Lesbians from School
• Saudi Arabia Opens First Female Law Firm

Photo: wikipedia.org