Very simply put, as I understand American law, they have a similar foreign sovereignty and foreign sovereign immunity act, but under that statute, there is an exception for what I believe are called “state sponsors of terrorism”. Under that exception, there are numerous American judgments against Iran. I'm presently consulting with American counsel on some of their cases in the United States. That's the way they've dealt with it there.
The other thing I should mention—I need to also point out to you—is that present today is Mr. Houshang Bouzari, who is the gentleman sitting behind me with the white hair. He is a survivor of torture. Of course we took his case all the way to the Supreme Court of Canada, only to fall down on the issue of sovereign immunity. What we argued was that international law trumped Canadian domestic law, and we failed in that regard, which again crystallizes the need that if we're going to provide protection for torture victims who cannot get justice elsewhere, it really is essential to amend the local statute.
This doesn't mean we're going to run off and sue in foreign courts such as the United States and England. They have competent courts. This is meant to provide justice for individuals who cannot get justice in other countries.
There are U.S. exceptions. The way we're going to draft it here in Canada is up to you people, with our assistance to put that legislation together.