RosevilleCAguy
Unsane
- Joined
- Aug 5, 2002
- Posts
- 12,331
US lawsuit ‘worthless and ineffective’
By Mutlak Al-Baqami & Saqar Al-Amry
RIYADH/JEDDAH, 19 August — Saudi lawyers have described the lawsuit filed by relatives of people killed in the Sept. 11 attacks in the US as "worthless and ineffective unde US law."
"They can only demand compensation after the parties involved are convicted," the lawyers said referring to the lawsuit seeking trillions of dollars in damages from Saudi and other organizations.
Saudi banks and charities have denied the accusation leveled against them in the lawsuit, saying that the case was baseless and unsubstantiated by material evidence.
The Saudi lawyers said the Americans had filed the lawsuit based on false reports carried by the US media. "The lawsuit demanding compensation is filed in the US, not in the Kingdom. This is another drawback," they pointed out.
In a civil lawsuit filed at the US District Court in Washington, relatives of hundreds killed in the attacks accused seven international banks, eight Islamic foundations and charities, the government of Sudan and a number of individuals of helping fund terrorist activities.
The lawsuit, filed by individuals from across the United States and at least six other countries, asked for damages exceeding $100 trillion. Individuals named in the suit included Osama Bin Laden and his relatives.
The banks named in the suit were: Al- Baraka Investment and Development Corporation, National Commercial Bank, Faisal Islamic Bank, Al-Rajhi Banking and Investment Corporation, Al-Barakat Exchange LLC, Dar Al-Maal Al-Islami and Al-Shamal Islamic Bank.
Charitable groups named included the International Islamic Relief Organization (IIRO), Sanabel Al Khair Inc., Muslim World League, Saar Foundation, Rabita Trust, Al-Haramain Islamic Foundation, Benevolence International Foundation and the World Assembly of Muslim Youth (WAMY).
Oqail Al-Oqail, director general of Al-Haramain, told Arab News that US investigators had not found any reason to convict his foundation or any other Saudi organizations following the Sept. 11 attacks. "So the lawsuit for compensation is a futile exercise," he added.
Al-Oqail said the lawsuit was aimed at creating suspicion on Islamic and charitable activities. "There were moves to involve Al-Haramain after the twin bombings in Nairobi and Dar es Salaam. But investigations proved that we were innocent," he said.
Al-Haramain, based in Riyadh, has its presence in 54 countries around the world with 40 branches in the Kingdom. Its chairman is the Saudi minister of Islamic affairs. It has been involved in charitable and Islamic activities over the past 11 years.
Dr. Omar Kamil, executive vice president of Dallah Al-Baraka, told Arab News that the lawsuit was aimed at damaging the Kingdom’s international reputation.
"We never had any relations with Bin Laden or any other illegal organization," said IIRO Secretary-General Dr. Adnan Basha.
He said IIRO, which is involved in relief and charity work in 50 countries, had taken steps to prevent use of its funds for illegal activities.
"Our financial records are well monitored and audited by international experts in cooperation with governments concerned," Basha said.
Dr. Saleh Al-Wohaibi, assistant secretary-general of WAMY, told Arab News that the organization’s board of trustees would meet soon to discuss steps to counter the lawsuit.
He called upon all Saudi companies and organizations accused in the lawsuit to adopt a joint stand to counter the charges.
"If they consider charitable work as a terrorist activity, then why don’t they treat Western charities in the same way?" he asked. Charitable organizations in Western countries provide billions of dollars in aid annually.
Apparently, these guys don't know the American legal system.
By Mutlak Al-Baqami & Saqar Al-Amry
RIYADH/JEDDAH, 19 August — Saudi lawyers have described the lawsuit filed by relatives of people killed in the Sept. 11 attacks in the US as "worthless and ineffective unde US law."
"They can only demand compensation after the parties involved are convicted," the lawyers said referring to the lawsuit seeking trillions of dollars in damages from Saudi and other organizations.
Saudi banks and charities have denied the accusation leveled against them in the lawsuit, saying that the case was baseless and unsubstantiated by material evidence.
The Saudi lawyers said the Americans had filed the lawsuit based on false reports carried by the US media. "The lawsuit demanding compensation is filed in the US, not in the Kingdom. This is another drawback," they pointed out.
In a civil lawsuit filed at the US District Court in Washington, relatives of hundreds killed in the attacks accused seven international banks, eight Islamic foundations and charities, the government of Sudan and a number of individuals of helping fund terrorist activities.
The lawsuit, filed by individuals from across the United States and at least six other countries, asked for damages exceeding $100 trillion. Individuals named in the suit included Osama Bin Laden and his relatives.
The banks named in the suit were: Al- Baraka Investment and Development Corporation, National Commercial Bank, Faisal Islamic Bank, Al-Rajhi Banking and Investment Corporation, Al-Barakat Exchange LLC, Dar Al-Maal Al-Islami and Al-Shamal Islamic Bank.
Charitable groups named included the International Islamic Relief Organization (IIRO), Sanabel Al Khair Inc., Muslim World League, Saar Foundation, Rabita Trust, Al-Haramain Islamic Foundation, Benevolence International Foundation and the World Assembly of Muslim Youth (WAMY).
Oqail Al-Oqail, director general of Al-Haramain, told Arab News that US investigators had not found any reason to convict his foundation or any other Saudi organizations following the Sept. 11 attacks. "So the lawsuit for compensation is a futile exercise," he added.
Al-Oqail said the lawsuit was aimed at creating suspicion on Islamic and charitable activities. "There were moves to involve Al-Haramain after the twin bombings in Nairobi and Dar es Salaam. But investigations proved that we were innocent," he said.
Al-Haramain, based in Riyadh, has its presence in 54 countries around the world with 40 branches in the Kingdom. Its chairman is the Saudi minister of Islamic affairs. It has been involved in charitable and Islamic activities over the past 11 years.
Dr. Omar Kamil, executive vice president of Dallah Al-Baraka, told Arab News that the lawsuit was aimed at damaging the Kingdom’s international reputation.
"We never had any relations with Bin Laden or any other illegal organization," said IIRO Secretary-General Dr. Adnan Basha.
He said IIRO, which is involved in relief and charity work in 50 countries, had taken steps to prevent use of its funds for illegal activities.
"Our financial records are well monitored and audited by international experts in cooperation with governments concerned," Basha said.
Dr. Saleh Al-Wohaibi, assistant secretary-general of WAMY, told Arab News that the organization’s board of trustees would meet soon to discuss steps to counter the lawsuit.
He called upon all Saudi companies and organizations accused in the lawsuit to adopt a joint stand to counter the charges.
"If they consider charitable work as a terrorist activity, then why don’t they treat Western charities in the same way?" he asked. Charitable organizations in Western countries provide billions of dollars in aid annually.
Apparently, these guys don't know the American legal system.
