Federal Judge Allows 9/11 Families’ Lawsuits Against Saudi Arabia to Proceed

A federal judge in New York, George B. Daniels, has denied Saudi Arabia's motion to dismiss a lawsuit filed by families of 9/11 victims, allowing the case to proceed to trial. The judge ruled on jurisdictional grounds, finding sufficient evidence that individuals employed by Saudi Arabia, such as an imam and an accountant, may have aided al-Qaida operatives who carried out the attacks. The lawsuit alleges that Saudi officials knowingly supported the hijackers and funded extremist groups, claims the kingdom vehemently denies while highlighting its past counterterrorism efforts against Osama bin Laden. The 2016 Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act (JASTA) played a pivotal role by providing an exception to sovereign immunity, enabling victims to sue foreign states accused of terrorism support. Plaintiff representatives and advocacy groups for the victims have hailed the ruling as a major step toward achieving justice after nearly 25 years of legal challenges. The case will now move forward with discovery and the potential for Saudi officials to be compelled to testify.