美国参议院通过涉'9·11'法案 允许受害者向沙特追责

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.

根据美国媒体报道，当地时间上周二，美国参议院通过一项法案，允许"9·11"恐怖袭击受害者起诉沙特政府。

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.

参议院当天表决一致通过该法案，允许发生在美国本土的恐怖袭击的受害者或幸存家属起诉为恐怖主义活动提供支持的国家。

"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.

据新闻网站The Hill的报道，民主党参议员查尔斯·舒默表示：“作为一个纽约人，这项法案跟我关系很密切，因为它将帮助"9·11"受害者讨回一点公道。”

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

接下来，该法案将送交众议院，能否通过尚不明朗。白宫此前曾多次威胁要否决该法案。

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

白宫新闻秘书乔什·欧内斯特重申了美国总统奥巴马对该法案的反对。

"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.

欧内斯特说道：“这项立法将改变长期以来的主权豁免原则。”此外，他还补充说道，这项立法将使得美国在世界各地的其他法院系统中受到伤害。

The legislation has also drawn criticism from the Saudi government.

此外，这项法案也招致沙特政府的批评。

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.

沙特阿拉伯政府已经告知奥巴马政府和国会议员，如果美国国会通过这项法案，那么该国政府将会抛售掉自己手中价值数百亿美元的美国资产。