JASTA runs counter to legal principles: Academics
Two Kuwaiti professors agreed Thursday evening that the US Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act (JASTA) violates the basic principles of the international law and relations. Dr Abdullah Al-Shaiji, professor of political science at Kuwait University, argued that the JASTA lacks many legal principles and poses a threat to foreign investment in the United States.
Speaking at a symposium on ‘the USGCC relations under JASTA’ on the sidelines of Kuwait International Book Fair, Dr AlShaiji said several countries reduced their investments from the United States following the passing of the controversial act earlier this year.
“The act has had a negative impact on the anti-terror cooperation as well,” he pointed out. “The United States will bear the brunt of the JASTA backfire if the act takes forces since there are signs that some countries started mulling tit-for-tat legislations,” he cautioned. Dr Al-Shaiji expected that the new US administration and Congress will reconsider the act.
Meanwhile, KU professor of international law Dr Ahmad Al-Samdan agreed that JASTA lacks the simplest legal principles. “It is totally unjustifiable to sue a country for individual behaviors by its nationals as long as there is no evidence of direct or indirect involvement by its government in any crime,” he stressed.
“JASTA will have adverse political and economic impacts on the United States which will definitely lose the confidence of many partners around the world,” Samdan warned. The act, passed by the US Congress in September, entitles the families of September 11 victims to sue foreign governments for damages. The 41st edition of Kuwait International Book Fair opened on November 16 and lasts until Saturday; it gathered 565 publishers from 30 countries.