JASTA and Reciprocal Actions
Before Congress voted to pass JASTA, more than 40 top foreign policy experts warned of the legislation’s unintended
consequences. Many believed foreign countries would take reciprocal action against the U.S. and its allies, placing
officials, diplomats and soldiers at risk. To date, almost 90 countries have issued statements condemning JASTA and
warning of its impact on sovereign immunity. Now, the U.S. is starting to see these warnings come to fruition.
Retaliatory action against JASTA is beginning to bubble up around the globe.

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September 9:
House passes JASTA.
Congress overrides
President Obama’s veto
on September 28.

October 5:
Pakistan indicates the country
will soon consider reciprocal

October 1:
The Arab Project in Iraq asks the Iraqi parliament to prepare a

September 9:
A proposal modeled after JASTA is introduced in
the French Parliament. While it was
disapproved, Conservative Member of
Parliament Pierre Lellouche has pledged to
introduce an even broader bill in January. He
will terminate these plans if Congress fixes
JASTA. He has also commissioned a report that
will be debated by the French National
Assembly on U.S. extraterritorial jurisdiction,
motivated by JASTA.

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The Domino Effect of JASTA

lawsuit against the U.S. for the 2003 invasion. The group is
lobbying for “a full-fledged investigation over the killing of

legislation and there are efforts
underway to bring legal action
against the United States and its
military connected to drone
strikes.

civilians, targets, loss of properties and individuals who
suffered torture and other mistreatment on the hand of US
forces.” Sheikh Jamal Al-Dhari, President of the Iraqi National
Project, has said, “We will regard [JASTA] as constituting a

October 18:

window of opportunity for millions of Iraqis who have lost

The family of a man killed in July during the

their sons and daughters in military operations by U.S.
military forces and their contractors since the U.S. invasion of

Turkey coup in July filed a criminal
complaint against U.S. military officers

2003 to pursue compensation from Washington for what

accusing them of “aiding and abetting” pro-

those victims have endured.”

coup forces at Turkey’s Incirlik Air Base.

This is distributed by Qorvis MSLGROUP on behalf of the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia. Additional
information is available at the Department of Justice, Washington, D.C.