The Court of Appeals in New York has heard arguments from both the lawyers representing families of 9/11 victims and the government of Saudi Arabia regarding the families' long-running legal case against the Middle Eastern country. This case seeks to determine whether it can proceed to trial.
Background
On September 11, 2001, nearly 3,000 people lost their lives when hijackers seized four US passenger jets, crashing them into the World Trade Center in New York, the Pentagon, and a field in Pennsylvania. The families allege that Omar al-Bayoumi, a Saudi government employee, knowingly supported two of the hijackers and was part of a network linked to the Saudi Ministry of Islamic Affairs.
Bayoumi, now retired, has denied any knowledge of the hijackers or involvement in the attacks. The Saudi government has categorically rejected any claims of complicity, asserting that it has immunity as a foreign sovereign state.
Legal Developments
The families first filed their lawsuit in 2002 and spent years lobbying the US Congress to amend the foreign sovereign immunity law. In 2016, Congress passed the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act (JASTA), which permits civil claims against foreign states or officials for damages resulting from international terrorism.
