NEW YORK, Aug. 14 (UPI) -- Saudi Arabia and four Saudi princes are immune from suits in the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks on the United States, a federal court ruled Thursday.
In upholding a lower court ruling, the 2nd U.S. Court of Appeals in New York said the Saudi defendants were protected by sovereign immunity. It also agreed with a lower court ruling that a Saudi banker and a Saudi non-profit organization also couldn't be held liable.
The chief issue, Chief Judge Dennis Jacobs said, is the scope of foreign sovereign immunity.
"The plaintiffs' claims do not come within the statutory exception for state-sponsored terrorist acts, because the Kingdom has not been designated a state sponsor of terrorism by the United States," Jacobs said.
Although the complaints varied in details, they shared a common accusation, the court said that the defendants "played a critical role in the September 11 attacks by funding Muslim charities that, in turn, funded al-Qaida" and should be held liable "for the consequences of their material support for al-Qaida."
