More than two decades after the horrific terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, the families of the nearly 3,000 victims are still fighting for their day in court. The New York Court of Appeals is currently hearing arguments to determine if a long-running lawsuit against Saudi Arabia can finally proceed to trial.
At the heart of the case are allegations that Omar al-Bayoumi, a Saudi government employee, provided critical support to two of the hijackers while acting as part of a network linked to the Saudi Ministry of Islamic Affairs.
While the Saudi government continues to hide behind claims of sovereign immunity, the families successfully lobbied for the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act (JASTA) in 2016 to pierce that shield.
In August 2025, a Manhattan District Court ruled that the families had presented sufficient evidence to move forward, a decision the Saudi legal team is now desperately trying to reverse.
Counsel for the families, Gavin Simpson, argued that the evidence shows Bayoumi was not merely an innocent participant but was acting under instructions from the Saudi state. As the court weighs whether to send the case back for further fact-finding or live testimony, the families remain steadfast.
Terry Strada, who lost her husband Tom in the World Trade Center, rightly noted that twenty-five years is an unacceptable amount of time to wait for justice. It is time for the legal system to stop shielding foreign entities and allow these families to hold those responsible for the murder of their loved ones accountable.
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