ABU DHABI Ñ Saudi charities are mounting a defense against a lawsuit filed against
them by relatives of victims of the September 11 attacks by Al Qaida on New York City and Washington, D.C.
The charities have appointed the Saudi legal firm headed by Bassem
Abdullah Alam to represent them in the United States. An executive of the
charities said $1 million was approved to cover initial legal expenses.
"We will strategize the media, the critical underlying tone and above
all the legal aspects of the defense case," Alam told the Riyad-based Arab
News daily.
The more than $200 trillion U.S. lawsuit names the Muslim World League as well as Saudi Defense Minister
Prince Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz and Interior Minister Prince Nayef Bin Abdul
Aziz. The former head of the Saudi intelligence agency, Prince Turki, was
also named in the suit.
The lawsuit charges that numerous Saudi figures, business and charities financed Al Qaida and should therefore be held accountable for the attacks.
Six Islamic charities based in the kingdom have formed a group that will
defend them against lawsuits either filed or expected to be filed in the
United States.
The defense effort is being spearheaded by the semi-official Muslim World League,
based in Riyad. League chairman Abdullah Ibn Abdul Mohsen Al Turki chaired a
session of the heads of the six charities in which they decided to combat
the lawsuits.
