GCC mulls unified law to ‘combat terrorism’

The GCC countries are mulling the possibility of introducing a uniform law to combat terrorism in member states, according to reports.

The law was discussed during a meeting between the justice ministers from the six-member bloc in Riyadh, Saudi daily Arab News reported.

Some of the other key issues at the meeting included the extradition of accused and convicts between the GCC states and preparation of rules to combat trafficking, a GCC official told the paper.

Ministers also discussed an initiative to establish an Arab network for legal experts and updating the agreement on a verdict’s execution and judicial announcements in member states.

“Our region is going through a time that needs a unified vision in order to face challenges surrounding us, and we need to stand together to confront them,” Saudi justice minister Walid Al-Samaani told the summit.

In his address to the meeting, Kuwaiti justice minister Yaqoub Al-Sanea also suggested forming a special team to be tasked with considering the impact of the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act (JASTA) recently adopted by the United States.

Also read: US Congress rejects Obama veto, Saudi 9/11 bill becomes law

The act, passed by the US Congress, gives citizens the right to sue foreign countries and organisations. It will allow families of the victims of the 9/11 terrorist attacks to sue Saudi Arabia.

Earlier, Al-Samaani had warned of the dangers of politicising laws, and asserted that the bill “violates the principles of international law and all international norms, as well as the principle of sovereign equality between states enshrined in the UN Charter.”

Earlier this week, a top Saudi lawyer also called for the kingdom to enact its own “JASTA”.

“It’s now imperative to pass a similar law or Saudi JASTA that would allow every Saudi to take legal action against any government that sponsors terrorism against the kingdom, including Iran and Hezbollah, by filing lawsuits at Saudi courts,” Dr Khaled Bin Abdul Aziz Al-Nuwaisser told Saudi Gazette.

Read more: Saudi lawyer calls on kingdom to enact its own JASTA