(VOVworld) - The US House of Representatives passed legislation on Friday that would allow the families of victims of the September 11 attacks to sue Saudi Arabia's government for damages.
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15 of the 19 hijackers were Saudi nationals (sputniknews)
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The US Senate in May unanimously passed the "Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act," known as JASTA. The bill was passed in the House by voice vote, two days before the 15th anniversary of the attacks that killed about 3,000 people. The bill also allows a US citizen to bring suit against a foreign nation believed to have provided material support to facilitate a terror attack on US soil or affecting US persons.
Fifteen of the 19 hijackers who crashed airliners in New York, outside Washington and in Pennsylvania were Saudi nationals. The Saudi government, which strongly denies responsibility, has lobbied against the bill.
Opponents of the measure said it could strain relations with Saudi Arabia, US major ally in the Middle East.