Saudi Arabia Retains Immunity, Can't Be Sued By 911 Victims

Today, the U.S. Supreme Court has declined an appeal by the families of 911 victims to hold Saudi royalty, other Saudi entities and Saudi Arabia in general liable for 911 terrorist attacks. The Saudi defendants will retain their sovereign immunity and cannot be sued in the U.S. for supplying financial support to Al-Qaeda, an Islamist group believed to be responsible for 911 attacks. The sponsorship links between Al-Qaeda and Saudi government have yet to be proved.

Saudi Arabia is officially not designated ‘a state sponsor of terrorism’ in the U.S, so the sovereign immunity of its subjects cannot be violated in the U.S. Currently there are four countries designated as 'state sponsors of terrorism' by the U.S. Department of State -- Cuba, Iran, Sudan and Syria. According to the website of the U.S. Department of State, countries that land on this list are subject to heavy sanctions, such as restrictions on U.S. foreign assistance, a ban on defense exports and sales, certain controls over exports of dual use items and miscellaneous financial and other restrictions. Evidently, the massive oil trade between USA and Saudi Arabia would be complicated a great deal if Saudi Arabia appeared on the list of state terrorism sponsors. Saudi Arabia's major importer is the United States, while US is also the second largest exporter of products produced within Saudi Arabia. Total exports from Saudi Arabia to the United States in 2007 are estimated at over $37 billion.

Meanwhile, attorneys of 911 victims said that today's decline of the appeal will limit the ability of victims to recover damages for acts of terrorism. Nearly 6000 plaintiffs are reported to have planned to sue. Obama's administration urged the Supreme Court to decline the appeal.