美國參議院通過涉'9·11'法案 允許受害者向沙特追責

The U.S. Senate last Tuesday approved legislation that would allow victims of the Sept. 11 terror attacks of 2001 to sue Saudi Arabia, U.S. media reported.

根據美國媒體報道，當地時間上週二，美國參議院通過一項法案，允許"9·11"恐怖襲擊受害者起訴沙特政府。

The bill, which was passed by a unanimous consent, would allow victims of terror attacks on U.S. soil or surviving family members to bring lawsuits against nation-states for activities supporting terrorism. The legislation will now head to the House of Representatives.

參議院當天表決一致通過該法案，允許發生在美國本土的恐怖襲擊的受害者或倖存家屬起訴爲恐怖主義活動提供支持的國家。

"This bill is very near and dear to my heart as a New Yorker because it would allow the victims of 9/11 to pursue some small measure of justice," Democratic Senator Charles Schumer said, according to news website The Hill.

據新聞網站The Hill的報道，民主黨參議員查爾斯·舒默表示：“作爲一個紐約人，這項法案跟我關係很密切，因爲它將幫助"9·11"受害者討回一點公道。”

The bill's future in the House is uncertain. The White House repeatedly issued veto threats over the bill.

接下來，該法案將送交衆議院，能否通過尚不明朗。白宮此前曾多次威脅要否決該法案。

White House Press Secretary, Josh Earnest, reiterated President Obama's opposition to the legislation.

白宮新聞祕書喬什·歐內斯特重申了美國總統奧巴馬對該法案的反對。

"This legislation would change long-standing, international law regarding sovereign immunity," Earnest said, adding that this legislation would make the United States vulnerable in other court systems around the world.

歐內斯特說道：“這項立法將改變長期以來的主權豁免原則。”此外，他還補充說道，這項立法將使得美國在世界各地的其他法院系統中受到傷害。

The legislation has also drawn criticism from the Saudi government.

此外，這項法案也招致沙特政府的批評。

Saudi Arabia has told the Obama administration and members of Congress that it will sell off hundreds of billions of dollars' worth of American assets held by the kingdom if Congress passes the bill.

沙特阿拉伯政府已經告知奧巴馬政府和國會議員，如果美國國會通過這項法案，那麼該國政府將會拋售掉自己手中價值數百億美元的美國資產。