On Wednesday, a New York City courtroom saw a significant gathering of families of September 11 victims expressing their outrage over Saudi Arabia’s attempts to evade responsibility for aiding the Al Qaeda hijackers. About 100 relatives packed into the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals, not far from Ground Zero, voicing their frustration with the Kingdom’s ongoing efforts to avoid liability in this long-standing case.
“It’s outrageous. After everything we’ve seen connecting Saudi government agents to the hijackers, their denial of culpability is shocking,” said Terry Strada, whose husband was among those killed in the attacks. She expressed her disbelief at the continued denial despite what they believe is clear evidence.
Lisa Friedman, who lost her husband on that tragic day, remarked, “We’re hoping to finally see justice.”
Saudi Arabia is appealing a ruling from last August that permitted the families to sue, citing “reasonable evidence” of a support network for some terrorists.
The Saudi officials maintain they had no prior knowledge of the attacks and assert they are shielded from the lawsuit due to foreign sovereign immunity, despite a 2016 law that inadvertently made it easier for victims’ families to pursue claims against nations accused of terrorism.
During the 90-minute court session, attorney Gregory Rapawy, representing Saudi Arabia, insisted, “The Kingdom has never supported Al Qaeda against its ally, the United States.”
On the other hand, Gavin Simpson, who represents the families, claimed that the Saudi government has “failed” to provide justifiable grounds for being dismissed from the suit alleging complicity in the attacks.
After Simpson finished his arguments, several plaintiffs in the audience clapped, leading Circuit Court Judge William Nardini to gently rebuke them, saying, “Please, this is not a moment for such things.”
Following the hearing, families urged President Trump to exert pressure on Saudi Arabia to apologize for its alleged involvement in the attacks. “We’re all fed up. And it’s time that the president defended us,” said Aaron Sand, who lost his father, Eric, when the planes struck the Twin Towers. He added, “President Trump, I love ya, but you are not doing enough. You need to prioritize the family members who were harmed.”
Relatives of victims traveled from across the country to be present, including Steve Milam from Dallas, whose brother died at the Pentagon on September 11. He shared his hope that the judges would understand the importance of holding Saudi Arabia accountable for their losses, stating, “It’s necessary for the families’ healing process.”
The lawsuit, originally filed in 2004, alleges that suspected Saudi spy Omar al-Bayoumi assisted in arranging housing for two hijackers and once hosted a “welcome party” for them. There’s also a chilling account of him being recorded on video “casing” the U.S. Capitol building. Al-Bayoumi, believed to be residing in Saudi Arabia, denies being a spy.
Judges Nardini, Guido Calabresi, and Eunice Lee announced that they would make a ruling on whether to uphold the lower court’s decision, potentially paving the way for a trial, in the coming months.
