John A. DeFrancisco
New York State Senate
Albany, New York

Dear Sen. DeFrancisco:

9/11 Families for a Secure America, an organization representing families of many of the victims of the September 11 terrorist attacks, strongly urges the New York State Assembly and Senate to pass the bipartisan Libel Terrorism Protection Act (A-9652 and S-6677).

We have seen our loved ones murdered in a terrorist attack financed with Saudi money, perpetrated primarily by Saudis acting in response to the murderous Wahabist fanaticism financed around the world by the Saudi government. It is unacceptable that a Saudi with possible financial involvement in funding al-Qaeda, who has already silenced more than 40 writers and publishers – including many Americans — should be able now to prevent a New York author from investigating his activities. Saudi billionaire, Khalid bin Mahfouz through exploitation of plaintiff-friendly British libel law has achieved precisely that goal.

Unless the NY Libel Terrorism Protection Act is passed he and others like him will be free to determine what can be published in the U.S.

Bin Mahfouz is utilizing United States law to render meaningless the rights guaranteed to all Americans by the Constitution.

We who have lost our loved ones as a result of Saudi financed terrorism believe that bin Mahfouz and his ilk must be stopped. It is a disgrace to this nation that these legal proceedings have been able to reach a stage at which any American writing in America is threatened with financial ruin for publishing her findings about a Saudi’s alleged financing of terrorist acts.

For these reasons we urge passage in the New York Legislature and signing by Gov. Spitzer of the Libel Terrorism and Protection Act.

In closing, we wish to thank Assemblyman Rory Lancman and Senator Dean Skelos for introducing this bill.

Sincerely,

Peter Gadiel,
President, 9/11 FSA