The State of Qatar expressed its concern on Monday regarding the US Senate's passing of a bill that allows victims of September 11 to sue governments of foreign countries in US courts. The act is called "Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism."
Head of the media office at the Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that the piece of legislation violates international law, particularly the principle of sovereign equality between states.
The Qatari official said the bill represents a dangerous precedent. He added that the State of Qatar warned that it would have dangerous implication on relations between states.

Gulf states condemn legislation

Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) on Monday condemned a law passed by the United States Congress last week that would allow the families of victims of the September 11 attacks to sue the kingdom's government for damages, Reuters reports from Dubai.
The head of the six-nation GCC said the law was "contrary to the foundations and principles of relations between states and the principle of sovereign immunity enjoyed by states," GCC Secretary General Abdullatif al-Zayani said in a statement.
Qatar and the United Arab Emirates also issued condemnations of the bill.
"Such laws will negatively affect the international efforts and international cooperation to combat terrorism," UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed al-Nahyan said in a statement carried by state news agency WAM.
The US House of Representatives passed the "Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act," known as JASTA, on Friday but the White House has threatened to veto the measure.
Fifteen of the 19 hijackers who crashed airliners in New York, outside Washington and in Pennsylvania on September 11, 2001 were Saudi nationals, but the Saudi government has strongly denied responsibility and has lobbied against the bill.