The Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act (JASTA), approved by the US Congress last week, would override current Saudi claims to sovereign immunity, allowing families of September 11 terrorist attack victims to bring a long-standing federal court case against the Saudi government for allegedly sponsoring the 2001 attacks. US President Barack Obama announced plans to veto the bill.
"[Secretary-General Iyad Ameen] Madani said that in passing the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act, or JASTA, Congress disrupts international relations, threatens to plunge the world economy into a depression, weakens the necessary alliances that promote peace and security around the world, and compromises the war on terrorism," the OIC's statement read.
According to the statement, Madani expressed the hope that "wisdom will prevail," and Congress would reconsider and recall the bill.
Saudi Arabia, which denies responsibility for the 9/11 attacks, strongly opposed to the bill, and said that in case the JASTA was adopted, international law would turn into the "law of the jungle." Ryiadh also said it could sell up to $750 billion worth US securities and assets in response to the adoption of the bill.
