9/11 victims not entitled to seize Afghan assets: US judge

A US judge on Friday recommended that victims of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks not be allowed to seize billions of dollars of assets belonging to Afghanistan’s central bank.

US Magistrate Judge Sarah Netburn in Manhattan said Da Afghanistan Bank was immune from jurisdiction, and that allowing the seizures would effectively acknowledge the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) as the Afghan government, something only the US president can do, Reuters reported.

“The Taliban’s (IEA) victims have fought for years for justice, accountability, and compensation. They are entitled to no less,” Netburn wrote. “But the law limits what compensation the court may authorize and those limits put the DAB’s assets beyond its authority.”

Netburn’s recommendation will be reviewed by US District Judge George Daniels in Manhattan, who also oversees the litigation and can decide whether to accept her recommendation.

In an executive order in February, US President Joe Biden ordered half of $7 billion of Afghan central bank funds that are frozen in US to be unlocked for the benefit of the Afghan people, leaving victims to pursue the remainder in court.

US sanctions ban doing financial business with the IEA, but allow humanitarian support for the Afghan people.