Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Iyad Ameen Madani described the recent bill passed by the United States Congress, dubbed as the “9/11 Bill”, as ill advised and politicized. 

In a press release by the Jeddah-based OIC, Madani said that in passing the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act, or JASTA, Congress disrupts international relations, threatens to plunge the world economy into a depression, weakens the necessary alliances that promote peace and security around the world, and compromises the war on terrorism. 

Madani recalled the United States Chief Justice John Roberts opinion in the Kiobel vs. Royal Dutch Petroleum Co. (2013) case, warning of the danger of judicial interference in foreign policy action. All it will do, as the Chief Justice acknowledged, is to cause international discord and retaliatory reciprocity by nations around the world. 

The United States, the Secretary General added, plays a vital role around the world, consistent with its superpower status, to enhance peace and security. It does so by working collaboratively with many nations, maintaining a global financial system, and sharing foreign intelligence. 

If the 9/11 Bill was to become law, it would remove the benefits of centuries old laws and international norms that promote the comity of nations, and plunge the world, one nation or region at a time, into chaos as each nation could pass reciprocal laws in retaliation that would weaken the protections that sovereignty and presumption against extraterritoriality legally provides to all people, of all nations. Chief Justice Roberts wisely said, “United States law governs domestically but does not rule the world.” 

Madani added that for Congress to fall for political pandering that destabilizes the world and undermines the protections that Americans and others lawfully enjoy in a civilized world is baffling, as it is wrong. 

The OIC Secretary General expressed the hope that wisdom will prevail, and Congress would reconsider and recall this alarming Bill that threatens not only global peace and security, but also the fragile global economy.

Source: MENA